section_path: Reactions/International
section_name: International
paragraph_text: International
  
  Moussa Faki, the head of the African Union Commission, condemned the coup and called on Gabon's security forces to "adhere strictly to their republican vocation" and guarantee the safety of Bongo, his family, and members of his government. The bloc suspended Gabon's membership on 31 August. ECOWAS also condemned the coup, with regional power Nigeria expressing alarm over "contagious autocracy " following similar events in the region. The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) also condemned the military use of force and asked for restoration of constitutional order, It also suspended Gabon's membership in the bloc on 5 September and moved its headquarters from Libreville to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. It later designated Central African Republic President Faustin Archange Touadera to mediate with Oligui, during which the two sides agreed to draft a roadmap towards the restoration of democracy.
  
  The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the coup would increase instability in Africa, calling it a "big issue for Europe". He later condemned the coup, but acknowledged that the preceding election had been marred with irregularities and was an "institutional coup", calling the vote "stolen". Patricia Scotland, the secretary-general of the Commonwealth of Nations, which Gabon joined in 2022, reiterated that the organization's charter clearly stated that "member states must uphold the rule of law and the principles of democracy at all times." United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the coup as a means to resolve the "post-electoral crisis" in Gabon. He later sent his special envoy to Central Africa, Abdou Abarry, to meet with Oligui on 6 September, during which Abarry told him that the UN would assist Gabon as it made a new start.
  
  French government spokesperson Olivier Véran condemned the coup and called for the results of the annulled election to be respected. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin called for "relevant sides in Gabon to resolve differences peacefully through dialogue", and for ensuring President Bongo's safety is guaranteed. The United Kingdom condemned the coup, calling it "unconstitutional", but also acknowledged flaws during the election. The United States, while formally not referring to the events in Gabon as a "coup", called on "those responsible" for the takeover to "preserve civilian rule." The US Embassy in Gabon advised its citizens to avoid downtown Libreville and areas near the Presidential Palace. On 26 September, the State Department announced that it was suspending several assistance programs to Gabon in response to the coup, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling the events an "unconstitutional intervention by members of the country’s military”. Canada also called for a "quick, peaceful" return to democratic and civilian-led rule, while Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said the country would evaluate its involvement in peacekeeping missions in Africa.
  
  The French mining firm Eramet, which operates the world's largest manganese mines at Moanda and has 8,000 employees in Gabon, said it was halting all work in the country for security reasons. Eramet shares fell 18% on the morning of the coup.
  
  The coup was also seen to have prompted internal reactions from other countries in Africa. In neighbouring Cameroon, President Paul Biya reshuffled the country's military leadership, while Rwandan President Paul Kagame "accepted the resignation" of a dozen generals and more than 80 other senior military officers.