Gabon - elections

Bongo wins presidential poll

Article published on the 2009-09-03 Latest update 2009-09-03 11:22 TU

A Libreville man walks past election posters for Zacharie Myboto, one of the 23 declared presidential candidates
(Photo: Reuters)

Ali Ben Bongo has won Sunday’s presidential election with 41.73 percent of the vote, according to Gabonese authorities. The results of elections had been delayed after the three leading candidates all claimed victory.

Bongo is the son of late Gabonese President Omar Bongo Ondima. Before the official results were declared, he had claimed th presidency - along with Pierre Mamboundou, the main opposition leader, and Andre Mba Obame, the former Interior Minister, are all claiming to have won.

At least 1,500 people had gathered in front of the Autonomous Electoral Commission Wednesday afternoon to await the final tally.

An electoral commission meeting had started late and was then suspended at 11pm local time. Reports from the 2,800 polling stations had not yet been examined by the members of the commission representing the ruling group, the opposition and the government, when the meeting was suspended.

There were fears that the long wait might result in violence, especially since there had already been an incident early Wednesday when masked men with machine guns fired on a broadcast unit of the Go Africa television station owned by Mba Obame.

The waiting crowds were determined to stay until the results were known, Libreville correspondent Lionel Kwatzi said earlier Thursday.

“The mood is really one of anxiety and tension … the supporters of Ali Ben Bongo are very confident,” he told RFI.

 

The electoral contest has been marred by complaints of irregularities, despite only isolated incidents of violence. Ali Bongo, a former Defence Minister, was the favourite to succeed his father who died in June after 41 years in power.