Morocco seeks ‘stability’ in ally Gabon after coup

Morocco on Wednesday called for the preservation of stability in central Africa’s Gabon, where rebel officers placed under house arrest President Ali Bongo Ondimba, a childhood friend of King Mohammed VI.

Gabon has been one of Morocco’s main allies in Africa since the reign of Mohammed’s father, Hassan II.

Morocco is “following closely the evolution of the situation in the Gabonese republic”, Rabat’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

The kingdom “underlines the importance of preserving the stability of this brotherly country and the tranquility of the population”, it added.

The Moroccan ministry expressed confidence that Gabon’s people and national institutions would move towards action “in the higher interest of the country, to safeguard the gains and respond to the aspirations of the Gabonese people”,

Earlier Wednesday, rebel officers in Gabon announced they had seized power following disputed elections in which Bongo, whose family has ruled the oil-rich state for more than 55 years, had been declared winner.

Bongo took over from his father Omar in 2009.

A worried-looking Bongo, in a video from an unidentified location, appealed to “all friends that we have all over the world… to make noise” on his behalf.

In 2018 Bongo underwent treatment and convalescence for several months in Morocco after a stroke while in Saudi Arabia.

Mohammed VI visited him during his stay and has traveled regularly to Gabon for private visits.