Gabon has been restored to full membership of the Commonwealth following the country’s recent presidential election.
The association made the announcement, following a meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group.
Gabon was partially suspended from the 56-nation group in September 2023, a month after the elected government of Ali Bongo Ondimba was ousted in a coup.
In April this year, coup leader Brice Oligui Nguema won the presidential election with almost 95 percent of the vote.
The Commonwealth ruled the poll was credible, transparent and inclusive and decided to lift Gabon’s partial suspension.
Commonwealth welcomed Gabon’s return to constitutional democracy and reiterated its condemnation of any unconstitutional overthrow of a duly elected government, stressing that “such action violates the democratic principles at the heart of the Commonwealth and is a serious breach of the Commonwealth Charter.