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Gabon’s President, Ali Bongo Ondimba, Is Re-Elected in Disputed Result Gabon’s President, Ali Bongo Ondimba, Is Re-Elected in Disputed Result
(about 11 hours later)
DAKAR, Senegal — President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon has been narrowly re-elected, according to results released by election officials on Wednesday.DAKAR, Senegal — President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon has been narrowly re-elected, according to results released by election officials on Wednesday.
Mr. Bongo won last weekend’s election, receiving 49.8 percent of the vote and edging out his opponent, Jean Ping, by less than two percentage points, according to the results released by the Interior Ministry. A constitutional court must certify the vote for it to become official.Mr. Bongo won last weekend’s election, receiving 49.8 percent of the vote and edging out his opponent, Jean Ping, by less than two percentage points, according to the results released by the Interior Ministry. A constitutional court must certify the vote for it to become official.
Supporters of Mr. Ping, a former chairman of the African Union, who received 48.2 percent of the vote, declared the results fraudulent and demanded a recount. Gabon’s capital, Libreville, was bracing for violence as election observers pleaded for peace.Supporters of Mr. Ping, a former chairman of the African Union, who received 48.2 percent of the vote, declared the results fraudulent and demanded a recount. Gabon’s capital, Libreville, was bracing for violence as election observers pleaded for peace.
On Wednesday evening, a spokeswoman for the Communication Ministry said protesters had gathered in the streets in large numbers and set fire to a Parliament building. The military was dispatched to control the crowds and fired canisters of tear gas into the area.On Wednesday evening, a spokeswoman for the Communication Ministry said protesters had gathered in the streets in large numbers and set fire to a Parliament building. The military was dispatched to control the crowds and fired canisters of tear gas into the area.
Both France and the United States expressed concern about transparency of the election results. Both nations called on Gabon to publish results from each polling station. In a statement on its Facebook page, the United States Embassy in Libreville said the election was professional but that there had been “many systemic deficiencies and irregularities” in voting, including late openings of many polling places and misinterpretation of voting rules that caused confusion. Early Thursday, Mr. Ping said that the presidential guard had attacked his party’s headquarters, killing two people and wounding many others, according to Reuters.
Both France and the United States expressed concern about transparency of the election results. Both nations called on Gabon to publish results from each polling station. In a statement on its Facebook page, the United States Embassy in Libreville said that the election was professional but that there had been “many systemic deficiencies and irregularities” in voting, including late openings of many polling places and misinterpretation of voting rules that caused confusion.
With re-election to the Central African country, Mr. Bongo will continue his family’s reign over the presidency, which dates to the 1960s. His father, Omar Bongo, served as president for nearly 42 years before his death in 2009. That same year, his son, was voted into office in an election that led to violence after the results were announced.With re-election to the Central African country, Mr. Bongo will continue his family’s reign over the presidency, which dates to the 1960s. His father, Omar Bongo, served as president for nearly 42 years before his death in 2009. That same year, his son, was voted into office in an election that led to violence after the results were announced.
Critics accused Omar Bongo of enriching himself and his family with proceeds from the nation’s oil and mineral resources while much of the population outside the government circle suffered. Mr. Ping has painted himself as an outsider, but for years he served in Omar Bongo’s cabinet until breaking from the party recently.Critics accused Omar Bongo of enriching himself and his family with proceeds from the nation’s oil and mineral resources while much of the population outside the government circle suffered. Mr. Ping has painted himself as an outsider, but for years he served in Omar Bongo’s cabinet until breaking from the party recently.
In his first term, Ali Bongo Ondimba, an avid conservationist, lured foreign investors and put into place industrial and agricultural programs to decrease unemployment and help remedy the Gabon’s income gap. But those programs are in the early stage, and results have yet to reach most people, leaving many convinced he is no different from his father.In his first term, Ali Bongo Ondimba, an avid conservationist, lured foreign investors and put into place industrial and agricultural programs to decrease unemployment and help remedy the Gabon’s income gap. But those programs are in the early stage, and results have yet to reach most people, leaving many convinced he is no different from his father.