Due to lack of recognition of its independence, there are no foreign embassies in the separatist region of the Horn of Africa even though Britain maintained a representative office there for years.

Gabon’s military coup, which followed similar events in Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Sudan and Niger, has sparked speculation about the emergence of an “African Spring” — a wave of popular uprisings against authoritarian regimes across the continent.

Mali's constitutional referendum in June has the potential to transform the country's political climate following a military coup that deposed its President almost three years ago.