Today's Headlines: Coup: Why we sacked President Ali Bongo – Gabonese army, Oba Of Benin Visits Buhari In Daura
Coup: Why we sacked President Ali Bongo – Gabonese army
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Gabonese army officers under the aegis of the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions on Wednesday morning announced on national television why they are taking over power from President Ali Bongo in the country.
The soldiers highlighted serious institutional, political, economic and social crises as factors responsible for the coup that they tagged, ‘necessary’ for the progress of the West African country.
In a nationwide address rendered in French but translated to English by AFP, the junta said, “Our beautiful country, Gabon, has always been a haven of peace.
“Today, the country is going through a serious institutional, political, economic and social crisis.
“We are therefore forced to admit that the organisation of the general elections of August 26, 2023, did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible and inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon.
“Added to this is irresponsible and unpredictable governance, resulting in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion, with the risk of leading the country into chaos.
“Today, 30 August 2023, we, the defence and security forces, gathered as the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) on behalf of the people of Gabon and as guarantors of the institutions’ protection — have decided to defend the peace by putting an end to the current regime.
PHOTOS: Oba Of Benin Visits Buhari In Daura
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The Oba Of Benin, Ewuare II, on Tuesday visited former President Muhammadu Buhari at his hometown in Daura, Katsina State.
Buhari’s media aide, Bashir Ahmad, made this known in an X post, late Tuesday.
Sharing photos from the visit, Ahmad wrote, “After Oba of Benin, Ewuare II concluded his visit to His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari in his hometown, Daura, the former Leader offered to respectfully accompany the esteemed traditional leader to the Umar Musa Yar’adua Airport in Katsina to bid him farewell.”
PHOTOS: Gabon Citizens Applaud Military Over Coup
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Gabon citizens on Wednesday applauded members of the security forces in the Plein Ciel district Libreville, after a group of Gabonese military officers appeared on television announcing they were “putting an end to the current regime”.
The military also scrapped the official election results that had handed another term to ousted President Ali Bongo.
Neglecting open trade will cause price instability –Okonjo-Iweala
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The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said that turning away from open trade would lead to greater price volatility and inflationary pressures and weaker growth prospects.
She stated this at the annual Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, U.S. recently.
The WTO director-general noted predictable trade was a source of disinflationary pressure, reduced volatility, and increased economic resilience, whereas fragmentation of trade into rival blocs “would be very costly.”
Okonjo-Iweala said, “A world that turns its back on open and predictable trade will be one marked by diminished competitive pressures and greater price volatility.
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