EU Foreign Policy Chief Speaks on Gabon Elections, Bongo’s Removal

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell Thursday spoke to media ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers where he addressed Gabon’s recent elections and the removal of President Ali Bongo by the Central African nation’s military. While comparing the recent military coup in Niger to that of Gabon, Borrell said Gabonese military officers intervened after Bongo won an unfair election. “Naturally, military coups are not the solution, but we must not forget that in Gabon there had been elections full of irregularities,” he said, further arguing that a rigged vote could amount to a civilian “institutional coup.”