On 29 September 2016, I announced the opening of a preliminary examination into the situation in Gabon, based on a referral received from the Government of Gabon with respect to crimes allegedly committed in its territory since May 2016 and potentially falling within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "Court").

On 21 September 2016, I received a referral from the Government of the Gabonese Republic regarding the situation in Gabon since May 2016 with no end-date. In reference to article 14 of the Rome Statute, Rule 45 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence and Regulation 25(1)(b) of the Regulations of the Office of the Prosecutor, the Government of the Gabonese Republic requests the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "Court") "to open an investigation without delay".