President Bola Tinubu has expressed concern over the rising cases of coups in African countries, calling for a comprehensive consensus against the spread of “contagious autocracy” across the continent.

The President said he was committed to working with other African leaders to defend democracy on the continent.

Tinubu stated this in his first response to the Wednesday morning coup in Gabon, just as the United States, United Nations, European Union, France and the Commonwealth voiced concerns over the political development in the Central African country.

The military takeover in Gabon is coming one month after a similar incident happened in Niger where Presidential Guards overthrew the democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum.

A dozen soldiers had appeared on Gabonese national television, announcing the cancellation of election results said to have been won by incumbent Ondimba Ali Bongo and the dissolution of “all the institutions of the republic.”

The mutineers led by the head of the republican guards, Gen Brice Nguema , also closed the borders until further notice.

The announcement came after President Ali Bongo, 64, was re-elected for a third term, extending his family’s half-century rule over the oil-rich Central African country of 2.3 million, but the opposition described the poll as a ‘fraud orchestrated’ by the ruling party.

The Bongo family, one of Africa’s most powerful dynasties, has been in power since 1967.

Bongo is the son of late President Omar Bongo, who ruled Gabon for almost 42 years, from 1967 until his death in 2009.

However, speaking on the situation in Gabon, Tinubu said he was watching closely with deep concern the country’s social-political stability and at the seeming “contagious autocracy” apparently spreading across different regions of the continent.

A statement by the Presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, explained that Tinubu was of the unwavering belief that power belongs in the hands of Africa’s great people and not in the barrel of a loaded gun.

It read, “President Bola Tinubu is watching closely with deep concern for the country’s socio-political stability and at the seeming autocratic contention apparently spreading across different regions of our beloved continent.

Tinubu promises democracy

“The President as a man who has made significant, personal sacrifices in his own life in the course of advancing and defending democracy is of the unwavering belief that power belongs in the hands of Africa’s great people and not in the barrel of a loaded gun.

“The President affirms that the rule of law and a faithful recourse to the constitutional resolutions and instruments of electoral dispute resolution must not at any time be allowed to perish from our great continent.’’

Tinubu, who is leading ECOWAS’ efforts to reverse the coup in Niger, further assured that he was in touch with other African leaders towards resolving the political crisis in Gabon.

“To this end, the President is working very closely and continues to communicate with other Heads of State in the African Union towards a comprehensive consensus on the next steps forward with respect to how the power in Gabon will play out and how the continent will respond to contagious autocracy we have seen spread across our continent,’’ the statement added.

Briefing journalists at a press conference at the State House, Abuja, Ngelale said the President “affirmed that the rule of law and a faithful recourse to the constitutional resolutions and instruments of electoral dispute resolution must not at any time be allowed to perish from our great continent.”

Tinubu, he said, was deeply concerned about the spread of autocracy in Africa.

He added that Tinubu urged African leaders to uphold democratic values, adding that the president was consulting with the AU leaders on how best to address the “contagious autocracy” spreading across Africa.

“To this end, the President is working very closely and continues to communicate with other Heads of State in the African Union towards a comprehensive consensus on the next steps forward with respect to how the power in Gabon will play out and how the continent will respond to contagious autocracy we have seen spread across our continent,” he stated.

Ngelale added that Tinubu had “substantive extended discussions” with the Canadian Prime Minister, Justine Trudeau, on issues related to the crisis in the Niger Republic and the unfolding situation in Gabon.

Giving details of the telephone conversation between the two leaders, the President aide noted, “The two heads of state mutually agreed that the promotion and protection of constitutional democratic governance on the continent remains a paranoid priority and that the people of Africa living in the diaspora around the world making a huge impact on the social and political landscapes of countries around the world and the economies of countries around the world continue to urge on the global community to advance the course of democracy on the continent for the sake of the economic prosperity of all Africans.

“So, it is of utmost importance to understand that President Bola Tinubu would continue to engage with Heads of State not just only in the African Union but also around [the] world and those communications and engagements are ongoing.”

Ngelari explained that the two leaders’ discussion centred on the need for the promotion and protection of constitutional democratic governance on the continent.

While the conversation lasted, both leaders were said to have emphatically insisted that democratic governance remain a paramount priority.

Meanwhile, the US and EU have expressed worries over the unfolding situation in Gabon.

Describing the development in Gabon as concerning, the US Government said it would continue to monitor the situation closely.

“It’s deeply concerning. We are going to watch this closely, and we’re going to continue to do everything we can to support the idea of democratic ideals that are expressed by the African people,” said White House national security spokesman, John Kirby.

The EU warned against instability in Africa, insisting that coups are a big issue on the continent.

The EU Foreign Policy Chief, Josep Borrell, disclosed that the EU defence ministers will discuss the situation in Gabon.

Borrell added that if a coup is confirmed in Gabon, it would incite more instability in the region.

Speaking at a meeting of EU defence ministers in Toledo, Borrell said, “If this is confirmed, it is another military coup which increases instability in the whole region.

“The whole area, starting with Central African Republic, then Mali, then Burkina Faso, now Niger, maybe Gabon, it’s in a very difficult situation and certainly the ministers have to have a deep thought on what is going on there and how we can improve our policy in respect to these countries. This is a big issue for Europe,” Reuters quoted him as saying.

UN decries coup

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the takeover in Gabon, his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said.

He said Guterres “firmly condemns the ongoing coup attempt as a means to resolve the post-electoral crisis” and reaffirms “his strong opposition to military coups.’’

He further called on all involved to exercise restraint, engage in an inclusive and meaningful dialogue, and ensure that the rule of law and human rights are fully respected.

Similarly, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, observed that the situation was “deeply concerning.”

“The Commonwealth Charter is clear that member states must uphold the rule of law and the principles of democracy at all times,” Scotland said.

French government spokesman, Olivier Veran, said Paris condemned the coup in Gabon and wants the election result to be respected.

Earlier, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said France was following events in Gabon “with the greatest attention.”

Paris maintains a military presence in many of its former colonial territories, including Gabon, where it has 370 soldiers permanently deployed, some in the capital, Libreville, according to the French Ministry of the Armed Forces website.

The head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Mahamat, equally condemned the coup and called on security forces to peacefully return to “democratic constitutional order.”

Also, Russia has expressed concern about the situation in the oil-rich country.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, stated, “Moscow has received with concern reports of a sharp deterioration in the internal situation in the friendly African country. We continue to closely monitor the development of the situation and hope for its speedy stabilisation.”

In its reaction, Spain noted it would evaluate peacekeeping missions in Africa after coups in Niger and Gabon, acting Defence Minister Margarita Robles said at a European Union defence ministers’ meeting in Toledo.

Spain has about 140 troops stationed to the northeast of Mali’s capital, Bamako, as part of the EU’s training mission there.

Hours after he was toppled, the ex-Gabonese president, who is under house arrest, called for help, urging citizens and his friends to ‘make noise.’

Bongo son detained

The coupists also detained Bongo’s son, Noureddin Bongo Valentine and allies for treason, embezzlement, corruption and falsifying the president’s signature, among other allegations.

Also detained were the former president’s Chief of Staff, Ian Ghislain Ngoulou, as well as his deputy, two other presidential advisers and the two top officials in the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party.

However, reports said there have been scenes of celebration in Libreville since the military takeover.

According to Al Jazeera, hundreds of Gabon’s citizens flooded the capital to celebrate the end of Ali Bongo and the 53-year rule of his family in the country.

“I am marching today because I am joyful. After almost 60 years, the Bongos are out of power,” said Jules Lebigui, an unemployed 27-year-old who joined the celebrations on Libreville’s streets.

Speaking to the French newspaper Le Monde, coup leader, Nguema, assured that the president will “enjoy all his rights.”

“He is a Gabonese head of state. He is retired. He enjoys all his rights. He is a normal Gabonese, like everyone else,” Nguema said.

The military leader declined to confirm whether he will declare himself the new president of the Central African country.

“I have not declared myself yet. I do not envisage anything for the moment. This is a debate that we are going to have with all the generals. We will meet at 2pm. It will be about reaching a consensus. Everyone will put forward ideas, and the best ones will be chosen as well as the name of the person who will lead the transition,” he added.

Shortly after their meeting, the junta named Nguema as the transition leader.

According to France 24, the military leaders in a press release read out on Gabon 24, declared that “General Oligui Nguema Brice was unanimously appointed Chairman of the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions, chairman of the transition.”

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