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Thursday, September 1, 2016
Gabon’s long-time ruler, Ali Bongo, was declared the winner in the latest election despite earlier claims that his main rival Jean Ping had won the majority of votes. The naming of Bongo as the winner brought demonstrators into the streets.
Media reports from inside and outside the country say that opposition members of the electoral commission rejected the August 28 first-past-the-post election result, which had the Bongo family extending its grip on the country for another seven years.
Results released by the Interior Ministry had Bongo winning by a slim margin over Ping, with 49.8% and 48.23% respectively.
“This victory by such a tight score obliges … each of us to respect the verdict of the ballot box and our institutions,” Bongo said in the text of a victory speech distributed to reporters. “Our country is advancing and that advance must take place with the unity and peace so dear to the Gabonese people.”
Soon after the election results were announced demonstrators took to the streets and riot police fired tear gas at opposition supporters during clashes, according to a Reuters source. Demonstrators also set fire to Gabon’s parliament building
Western powers are urging calm and called upon authorities to release the results of individual polling stations for greater transparency.
The Reuters report has Ping’s party saying according to its tally, their candidate won with 59% of the vote.
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