AFRICA/GABON - Tensions continue in Gabon, as newly elected President asks opposition to accept “the verdict of the polls”

Libreville (Agenzia Fides) - “The desire for chaos that characterizes some candidates and their supporters, whose aim is to plunge the country into the abyss of political violence,” said an official statement from the government in Gabon, where violent fighting broke out yesterday, September 3, immediately following the announcement that Ali Bongo, son of President Omar Bongo (who died in June), had won the presidential elections.
Bongo won the elections on August 30, with 41.73% of the vote. In second place was the former Internal Affairs Minister Andre Mba Obame, who won 25.88% of the vote, while long-time opponent Pierre Mamboundou came in third with 25.22%.
Bongo's victory, however, has been challenged by the other two candidates. Mba Obame, in particular, has affirmed that “it has been an electoral coups d'etat. I do not acknowledge the results of the election. I was the one who won.”
Fighting between supporters of the two candidates broke out and the police forces were deployed even before the independent Electoral Commission announced the results. In the capital, Libreville, the anti-riot squadron broke up a demonstration in front of the headquarters of the Electoral Commission. The demonstration had been attended by Mba Obame and Mamboundou.
The most intense fighting was seen in Port-Gentil, the economic capital of the country, which is home to the headquarters of the major oil companies working in Gabon. After having laid siege to the prison, freeing several of the prisoners, demonstrators attacked the French Consulate (Paris is accused of having played a role in Bongo's victory, as his father had maintained a long-time relationship with France), as well as several offices of Total and the Franco-American oil service Schlumberger. The French troops in the country were placed on alert and the French citizens were warned to stay inside their homes.
In Port-Gentil, the violence continues today, September 4, and in Libreville, the situation seems to have calmed down a bit, although many businesses have closed and street access has been limited.
Ali Bongo has launched an appeal to the opposition, asking that they accept “the verdict of the polls” and has blamed his political opponents for the outbreak of violence. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 4/9/2009)