UN secretary general Antonio Guterres has condemned the ongoing coup attempt as a means to resolve the post-electoral crisis in Gabon.

UN spokesperson Stephanie Dujarric disclosed this at a news conference on Wednesday at UN headquarters in New York.

According to local media reports, Gabonese military officers have cancelled election results and dissolved state institutions, claiming they have taken power.

The African country’s borders are closed until further notice, said the reports, adding gunfire was heard in the capital Libreville. The officers said the general election was not credible, and the results were annulled.

Before the incident, Gabon’s national electoral body said President Ali Bongo Ondimba from the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party was reelected for a third term in Saturday’s election.

“The secretary general is following the evolving situation in Gabon very closely. He notes with deep concern the announcement of the election results amidst reports of serious infringements of fundamental freedoms,” Mr Dujarric said.

The spokesperson said the secretary general reaffirmed his strong opposition to military coups.

“The secretary general calls on all actors involved to exercise restraint, engage in an inclusive and meaningful dialogue and ensure that the rule of law and human rights are fully respected. He also calls on the national army and security forces to guarantee the physical integrity of the president of the republic and his family,” added the UN official.

According to him, the UN stands by the people of Gabon.

Gabon is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Military coupists have toppled Niger, Burkina Faso, and other West African countries in the last four years.

Others are Chad (since April 2021), Guinea (since September 2021), Mali (since August 2020) and Sudan.

Mr Dujarric, while answering a question on solutions to the spread of military take-off in African countries at the press briefing, said the best way to deal with a military coup is to prevent it.

“The best way to deal with it is to invest more in preventing it from happening by investing in strong institutions and ensuring that elections are safe,” Mr Dujarric stated. “Also, that people can express themselves freely and that their human rights are respected. That is the best remedy. Afterwards, there is need to condemn military coup strongly.”

(NAN)