The coup leaders in Gabon have announced the reopening of the country’s borders, three days after they seized power from President Ali Bongo.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the army spokesperson said the reopening of the borders was in order to “preserve respect for the rule of law, good relations with our neighbors and all states of the world” and to keep the country’s “international commitments.”
The land, sea and air borders were reopened “with immediate effect,” the spokesperson said.
The military officers, led by Brice Oligui Nguema, former head of the country’s presidential guard, had cited institutional, political, economic, and social crises as reasons for the coup.
After announcing that they had seized power, the soldiers, who identified themselves as members of the Committee of Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), said they were dissolving “all the institutions of the republic.”
The soldiers also announced the closure of the country’s borders.
The coup is the eighth in West and Central Africa in three years.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, Oligui will be sworn in as the transitional president on Monday.
