US ends aid to Gabon after concluding coup took place

The US has suspended most of its financial assistance to Gabon in response to a military takeover there two months ago.

The US State Department said it had formally established that a coup took place in the West African country, which under US law requires an end to non-humanitarian aid.

Humanitarian, health, and educational assistance to Gabon will continue, a statement from the department said.

"We will resume our assistance alongside concrete actions by the transitional government toward establishing democratic rule," the statement added.

Last month, the US said it paused some foreign assistance programs that were benefiting the Gabonese military government.

Mutinous soldiers led by General Brice Oligui Nguema overthrew Ali Bongo Ondimba in August, just as he was proclaimed the winner of a widely-criticised election.

The junta appointed Raymond Ndong Sima, who had been an opposition leader, as Gabon's prime minister.

The military has pledged to oversee free and fair elections, but has not yet released polling dates.