Washington expresses concern over situation in Gabon

Shafaq News / The United States is deeply concerned by events in the oil-producing West African nation of Gabon, where military officers said on Wednesday they had seized power, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said.

Kirby said all U.S. embassy personnel and what he called a small number of troops had been accounted for after the officers said they had put President Ali Bongo under house arrest.

"It's deeply concerning to us. We will remain a supporter of the people in the region, a supporter of the people of Gabon and of their demand for democratic governance," he told a briefing. "We're watching this closely."

If successful, the Gabon coup would be the eighth in West and Central Africa since 2020.

"I think it's too soon to call this a trend," said Kirby, adding that the United States would "remain focused on promoting democracy on the continent."

(Reuters)