The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) lifted sanctions on Gabon on Saturday, marking a significant step towards the country’s reintegration into the regional bloc.
This decision comes six months after ECCAS suspended Gabon’s membership in response to a coup that ousted President Ali Bongo.
The announcement was made by Gabon’s Foreign Minister Regis Onanga Ndiaye in a televised address late on Saturday.
He confirmed that member states reached the agreement during a meeting held in neighboring Equatorial Guinea.
While no official statement was issued by ECCAS itself, Burundi’s Foreign Minister Albert Shingiro corroborated the news via social media, confirming the lifting of sanctions at the meeting he attended.
The sanctions were imposed in August 2023, shortly after a military coup removed President Bongo from power.
These measures included suspending Gabon’s membership and barring its participation in all ECCAS activities.
The regional bloc emphasized that the sanctions would remain in place until constitutional order was restored.
Despite the junta’s continued hold on power, there appears to be a shift in approach.
In November 2023, the junta announced its intention to hold elections in August 2025.
The lifting of sanctions by ECCAS could be interpreted as a cautious step towards normalcy, with the expectation that Gabon will hold democratic elections within the designated timeframe.
