The African Union’s Peace and Security Council has announced its decision to “immediately suspend” Gabon in response to the recent military coup that removed President Ali Bongo from power on August 30, 2023.

The council, voicing its condemnation of the military takeover, declared its suspension of Gabon from all AU activities, organs, and institutions until constitutional order is restored in the country.

The coup followed disputed elections in which Bongo had been declared the winner.

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This decision was made during a council meeting chaired by Bankole Adeoye, the AU commissioner for political affairs from Nigeria, and Burundi’s Willy Nyamitwe, the current chair of the council.

Moussa Faki Mahamat, the head of the African Union Commission, had earlier called on the Gabonese army and security forces to ensure Bongo’s safety and condemned the coup as a “flagrant violation” of the AU’s legal and political frameworks.

The African Union had previously suspended Niger in a similar move following a coup in July that ousted elected President Mohamed Bazoum.