Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 1277^th meeting held on 30 April 2025 on the Review of the Political transition program of the Gabonese Republic.

The Peace and Security Council,

Recalling its previous decisions and pronouncements on the Situation in Gabon particularly Communiqué [PSC/PR/COMM.1172 (2023)] adopted on 31 August 2023, Communiqué [PSC/PR/COMM.1180.1 (2023)] adopted on 23 October 2023 and Communiqué [PSC/PR/COMM.1212 (2024)] adopted on 20 May 2024;

Reiterating the AU zero tolerance of unconstitutional changes of government, in line with Article 4(p) of the AU Constitutive Act; and recalling the provisions contained in Article 7 (2, 3 & 4) of the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council and the obligation of all AU Member States to comply with the decisions taken by Council in the discharge of its mandate;

Reaffirming the Declaration on  Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government, adopted by the 16^th Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, from 27 to 28 May 2022; the Declaration on the Framework for an OAU Response to Unconstitutional Changes of Government, adopted by the 36th Ordinary Session of the OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Lomé, Togo, from 10 to 12 July 2000 (the Lomé Declaration); and the Solemn Declaration of the 50^th OAU/AU Anniversary adopted in Addis Ababa on 25 May 2013  ;

Also reaffirming the determination to silence the guns in Africa by the year 2030 and creating conducive conditions for the realization of the AU Vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its people and representing a dynamic force in the global arena, as well as AU Agenda 2063;

Taking note of the Opening statement by H.E. Ambassador Rebecca Amuge Otengo, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uganda and stand-in Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) for the month of April 2025; and the remarks by H.E. Mahmoud Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission; also taking note of the statement by H.E. Mr. Michel Regis ONANGA NDIAYE, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Gabonese Republic delivered after the closed session;

Further taking note the presentation by H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; and the Statements by H.E. Ambassador Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre, Chief Executive Officer APRM Continental Secretariat; and by H.E. Ambassador Jean-Jacques Démafouth the Representative of Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to the AU; and

Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council: 

1. Welcomes the steps taken in the implementation of the political transition program of the Gabonese Republic which included the holding of an inclusive National Dialogue, the adoption of a new constitution through a Referendum, and the conduct of Presidential elections; in this regard, commends the successful holding on 12 April 2025, of the Presidential election in the Gabonese Republic, which marked the end of the political transition in the country;

2. Also commends the Gabonese people for their strong commitment to democracy and the rule of law, through peaceful and orderly conduct of the presidential election; and congratulates the President-Elect, H.E. Brice Oligui Nguema and further encourages the President-Elect to comply with his commitments in restoring dignity to the Gabonese people, following his election victory;

3. Looks forward for the Inauguration of the President Elect on 3 May 2025; also looks forward for the organization of the legislative and local elections in 2025 within the established timeframe and urges the government to honour its commitments;

4. Decides:

(i) To lift the suspension of the participation of Gabon in AU’s activities, as contained in paragraph 3 of Communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.1172 (2023) adopted on 31 August 2023 and in line with Article 26 of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and invites Gabon to immediately resume its participation in the activities of the AU; and

(ii) To keep the situation in Gabon under review, in particular to determine the modalities for the continuation of AU support with the support of Member States, ECCAS and the United Nations;

5. Reiterates the need for immediate release and guarantee of the human rights, personal integrity, security and health of former President Ali Bongo Ondimba, members of his family and members of his former government;

6. Commends the facilitation process undertaken by H.E. Faustin-Archange Touadera, President of the Central African Republic and following the adoption of a new Constitution by referendum in November 2024, as well as the adoption of new electoral laws and which culminate with the transition process;

7. Also commends the High Representative for Silencing the Guns, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and ECCAS, for the role undertaken in supporting the transition process in Gabon;

8. Expresses appreciation to the AU Commission for accompanying Gabon in its political transition, and the African Facility to Support Inclusive Transition (AFSIT) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for supporting the political transition in Gabon including the deployment of the solidarity mission to Gabon to observe the Referendum of November 2024; and calls on AFSIT to continue supporting the consolidation of democracy and good governance in the Gabonese Republic and to extend similar support to other countries in similar need;

9. Reiterates the need for Member States to comprehensively address the structural root causes of, and conditions that facilitate unconstitutional changes of government; and also reiterates its request to the AU Commission, with the support of Member States and the RECs/RMs, to undertake a comprehensive and objective study on the structural root causes of unconstitutional changes of government to apply the existing AU norms in a rational manner and a sense of equity; and

10. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

COMMENTS