In a written statement made by the UN Spokesperson, it was stated that Guterres was following the developments in Gabon closely, and that he was concerned about the announcement of the election results despite serious violations.
Emphasizing that Guterres strongly opposes military coups, the statement said, “The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attempted coup in Gabon to resolve the post-election crisis.”
In the statement, where Antonio Guterres called for restraint from all parties and called for an inclusive and meaningful dialogue, it was underlined that the rule of law and human rights should be respected.
“The UN stands with the people of Gabon,” the statement said.
Soldiers took control
A group of soldiers, who entered the national television building in the early hours of the morning in the Central African country of Gabon, announced that they had taken over the administration.
The soldiers, calling themselves the “Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI),” announced that the elections held on August 26 were canceled and the borders of the country were closed.
Current President Ali Bongo Ondimba had won the presidential elections held on 26 August for the third time. Ali Bongo, 64, took over the seat in 2009 from his father, Omar Bongo, who ruled the country for more than 41 years.
A curfew was imposed on the grounds of “violence” in the last hours of the voting process in the country, and the internet was restricted while the vote counting process continued after the election.
Opponents, on the other hand, reacted to the government’s practices, and opposition leader Ondo Ossa claimed that the elections were rigged.