Gabonese voters are going to the polls on Saturday for presidential, legislative, and local elections in an attempt to end President Ali Bongo’s bid for a third term and his family’s 56-year dominance. Voting is starting across the Central African country at 0700 GMT with 19 candidates running for president. However, six main opposition parties have supported a joint nominee to challenge Bongo.
Opponents argue that Bongo has not done enough to alleviate poverty for the third of Gabon’s population living in poverty and question his ability to govern after suffering a stroke in 2018. In response, Bongo, 64, has campaigned extensively, promising to generate more jobs, enhance micro-loan programs, and reduce public school fees.
Although the lead-up to the elections has been relatively smooth, there are concerns that the post-election period could be marred by unrest, mirroring the protests that erupted after Bongo’s victory in 2016. The opposition has disputed both of his previous election wins, alleging fraud.
Experts warn that recent changes to the voting system, such as the introduction of a single ballot requiring voters to choose a presidential candidate and lawmaker from the same party, could further complicate the aftermath. Remadji Hoinathy, a researcher at the Africa-focused Institute for Security Studies, emphasized that these alterations “might add more tensions on the outcome of the elections, and then maybe contestations and maybe violence.”
Bongo’s camp asserts that he is the clear frontrunner in the race, although there is no reliable polling data to support this claim. His primary challenger is joint opposition candidate Albert Ondo Ossa, 69, an economics and management professor who has campaigned on the need for change and improved economic opportunities. This message may resonate in a country where one-third of young people are unemployed and the majority of the population has only experienced Bongo’s rule.
Large crowds attended the final rallies of both Bongo and Ondo Ossa in the capital city, Libreville, on Friday. A pensioner named Alain Moussavou expressed optimism for a change in leadership, stating, “I am 67 years old, I can tell you that I have never seen such enthusiasm for a candidate. I am convinced that this year there will be a changeover in Gabon.”
The vote-counting process will begin after polls close at 1700 GMT, but it is unclear when preliminary results will be announced.
(Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by David Gregorio)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
