U.S. suspends aid to Gabon in wake of August 30 coup, commits to support transition to democratic civilian governance

The U.S. State Department announced the suspension of foreign assistance to Gabon in reaction to the military takeover which took place on August 30 with the removal of longtime leader Ali Bongo Ondimba, but reaffirmed commitment to support the central African country in conducting a timely and durable transition to democratic civilian governance.

“The United States has concluded that a military coup d’état has taken place in Gabon. Pursuant to section 7008 of the Department of State’s annual appropriations act, the United States is suspending most U.S. assistance to the Government of Gabon”, the department said in a statement. The decision for the official suspension of the aid came one week after General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, the former Chief of the presidential guard, who removed Bongo in the early hours of August 30, received on October 19 President Biden’s Special Assistant Senior Director for African Affairs in the National Security Council.

“The United States reaffirms our commitment to support Gabon in conducting a timely and durable transition to democratic civilian governance and advancing shared security interests in the Gulf of Guinea. We will resume our assistance alongside concrete actions by the transitional government toward establishing democratic rule. We will continue to work closely with the Gabonese people and regional partners,” it added.

On September 26, the department temporarily paused the foreign support to the central African country in reaction to the coup.

Nguema, leader of the junta known as CTRI, claimed the elections were rigged. He was subsequently inaugurated transitional leader on September 04 but did not provide any timeline for the transition.

Several regional organizations, including the African Union suspended Gabon’s membership following the coup.