China on Wednesday called on all sides in Gabon to guarantee the safety of President Ali Bongo Ondimba after a group of military officers said they were “putting an end to the current regime” in the West African nation.
The Foreign Ministry’s spokesman, Wang Wenbin, disclosed this on Wednesday in reaction to the coup in Gabon.
The military coup that occured in Gabon was reported by several media on Wednesday morning after the Gabonese soldiers announced its seizure of power from the democratically elected President Ali Bongo Ondimba who has been in power for 14 years and whose re-election was just announced.
Reports revealed that the status of Ali Bongo, whose family has ruled the oil-rich African country for over 55 years, was not immediately clear but the area around his residence appeared to be quiet.
Meanwhile China called for the safety of ousted Gabon President.
China said, “We call on all sides in Gabon to proceed from the basic interests of the country and the people, resolve differences through dialogue, (and) restore normal order as soon as possible,” foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said, calling on parties to “guarantee the personal safety of President Bongo, and uphold national peace and stability”.
