Events in Gabon could 'increase instability' in region, says EU's Borrell

The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the EU's defence ministers would discuss the situation in Gabon, and that if it was confirmed that a coup d'état had taken place, it would lead to increased instability in the region.

"If this is confirmed, it is another military coup which increases instability in the whole region," said Borrell, speaking at a meeting of EU defence ministers in Toledo.

"The whole area, starting with Central African Republic, then Mali, then Burkina Faso, now Niger, maybe Gabon, it's in a very difficult situation and certainly the ministers ... have to have a deep thought on what is going on there and how we can improve our policy in respect with these countries," he said.