A Gabonese opposition leader has taken refuge in the South African embassy in the West African country, South Africa’s ambassador to Gabon said on Wednesday.
”He thought his safety was at risk, he feared he was to be arrested for certain things the government alleges against his party,” Joe Khasu said from Libreville.
He said members of Pierre Mamboundou’s party had been implicated in an incident where cars were burnt on Monday.
”We volunteered not to inform the Gabonese Foreign Ministry about his presence because it was in the interest of relations with the host country. The Gabonese authorities have shown understanding,” he added.
Foreign Affairs spokesperson Nomfanelo Kota added: ”The matter is being dealt with through the necessary diplomatic channels. Our ambassador … is looking into the matter with the Gabonese foreign ministry.”
She could not confirm a South African Broadcasting Corporation report that on Tuesday Gabonese police confiscated documents from Mamboundou’s office and arrested a number of his supporters.
On December 1 last year, Mamboundou and another opposition leader rejected President Omar Bongo’s re-election. Bongo has ruled the country since 1967. – Sapa