France's multinational mining and metallurgy company Eramet told Sputnik on Wednesday that it was taking measures to protect its employees and facilities in Gabon after the military coup.
"In light of the current events and in anticipation for the situation to clear up, Eramet has put in place procedures to protect the safety of its employees and the integrity of its facilities. The group is closely monitoring the situation," the company's press service said.
It also confirmed that the company's Comilog and Setrag subsidiaries had ceased their operations in Gabon until further notice, while rail transportation services had also been suspended.
Eramet's Compagnie Miniere de l'Ogooue SA (Comilog), which is one of the world's leading manufacturers of manganese-based products, has been operating in Gabon since 1953. La Societe d'Exploitation du Transgabonais (Setrag) has been transporting wood and minerals by rail in Gabon since 2003. Eramet has about 8,000 employees in the Central African country, the majority of them Gabonese citizens.
Earlier in the day, Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba was reelected as the country's head for another term after securing 64.2% of the votes. After that, the country's military delivered a televised address to announce the cancellation of the elections' results and the dissolution of all the institutions of the republic.
The president has since been placed under house arrest, and Gabon's borders have been closed until further notice.