Gabon Officially Back to the AU

Addis Ababa – Sudanhorizon – Agencies
The African Union’s Peace and Security Council has officially lifted Gabon’s suspension, ending a 20-month freeze on its membership. The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, welcomed Gabon’s efforts to restore constitutional order, particularly through a comprehensive national dialogue, a referendum, and elections that AU observers deemed credible.
According to the Ethiopian News Agency (Thursday), during its 1277th meeting, the Peace and Security Council reviewed Gabon’s political transition process, which was found to be “generally successful,” as stated by Council Chair Rebecca Amuge Otengo during a press briefing. As a result, she said, the African Union decided to lift all sanctions and welcomed Gabon’s full reintegration into the Union’s activities.
The African Union’s website noted that the Chairperson of the AU Commission emphasized Gabon’s return as a strong signal in support of constitutional legitimacy on the continent. He expressed hope that Gabon’s example would inspire similar transitions toward constitutional restoration across Africa.
For his part, Gabonese Foreign Minister Régis Onanga Ndiaye expressed gratitude to all African Union institutions—particularly the Commission and the Peace and Security Council—for their support throughout the transition, including during the recent presidential elections, in which transitional leader Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema won a landslide victory with 94.85% of the vote.
Speaking from the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Foreign Minister declared:
“With great honour and pride, I announce to the Gabonese people, on behalf of Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, President of the Republic and Head of State, Gabon’s return to the great African family.”
The Foreign Minister also delivered an invitation from President Nguema to the AU Commission Chair to attend the inauguration ceremony scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, in Libreville.
According to Sudanhorizon, this reintegration marks a diplomatic victory for Gabon after a period of tension and isolation on the regional and international stage. Following the military coup that ousted the ruling Bongo family on August 30, 2023, institutions such as the African Union, the African Development Bank, and the Economic Community of Central African States had suspended or restricted cooperation with Gabon.
The lifting of sanctions will now allow Gabon to regain its place within the African community, expand its international engagement, and participate actively in major international meetings organized by the African Union and its regional and global partners.

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