ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) Commission has suspended Gabon from the pan-African bloc until normal constitutional order is restored in the country following the latest military coup.
The decision to suspend Gabon from the AU membership was made by the Peace and Security Council of the AU Commission during its latest meeting on the situation in the Central African country, the AU said in a statement issued late Thursday.
The council "decides to immediately suspend the participation of Gabon in all activities of the AU and its organs and institutions until the restoration of constitutional order in the country, in line with the relevant AU instruments," the statement read.
The council also called for the immediate release and guarantee of the human rights, personal integrity, safety and health of President Ali Bongo, his family members as well as members of his government.
It condemned any politically motivated arrests in the circumstances and stressed the importance of ensuring that all political detainees are processed through the judicial system as prescribed by the law of the country.
The council demanded the immediate restoration of constitutional order through the conduct of free, fair, credible and transparent elections that would be observed by the AU Election Observer Mission and the concerned region.
It also urged the Gabonese military to immediately return to the barracks and unconditionally return power to the civilian authority, and uphold their constitutional mandate and the principle of constitutionalism.
The council further urged the country's military to refrain from any interference in the political processes in Gabon, failing which, the council will take necessary measures including the imposition of targeted sanctions against the perpetrators of the coup.
The Gabonese military on Wednesday announced on television that they had taken power and put President Bongo under house arrest.
Gabon's national electoral body said earlier in the day that Bongo from the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party was reelected for a third term in Saturday's election. The military, however, canceled presidential election results and dissolved state institutions.
Bongo, 64, once served as minister of defense and other posts in the government. He was elected president of Gabon in 2009 and was reelected in 2016.
Several African countries, such as Cameroon, Angola and the Republic of the Congo, as well as regional and international organizations, have condemned the coup in Gabon.
The Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), the Central African sub-regional bloc, has "strongly" condemned the military takeover and called for immediate restoration of constitutional order in Gabon.
The CEMAC also called on stakeholders to "preserve peace and strongly urges them to prioritize dialogue."
Meanwhile, Chad issued a statement Wednesday, saying it was following the development in Gabon "with great attention and concern" and called for a meeting of the Economic Community of Central African States, a regional organization comprising 11 states in Central Africa.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday condemned the coup in Gabon. Guterres is following the situation in Gabon very closely, and notes with deep concern the announcement of the election results amid reports of serious infringements of fundamental freedoms, according to a statement.
