CAIRO, Aug. 30 — The Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday called on all parties in Gabon to prioritize the national interest in order to preserve the security and stability of the country, the ministry said in a statement. Egypt is following closely the developments in Gabon, the statement said, expressing hope that stability in Gabon would be restored as soon as possible to preserve the safety of the Gabonese people. In the meantime, the ministry called on the Egyptian community in Gabon to exercise the utmost caution, avoid areas of security tension, and continue communication with the Egyptian embassy to ensure their safety. On Wednesday, the Gabonese military canceled presidential election results and dissolved state institutions, claiming that they had taken power and put President Ali Bongo under house arrest. Gabon’s national electoral body said earlier in the day that Bongo from the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party was re-elected for a third term in Saturday’s election. However, the military said the election was not credible. Ali Bongo, 64, once served as minister of defense and other posts in the government, was elected president of the Gabonese Republic in 2009 and was re-elected in 2016.
Xinhua
