Gabon goes to the polls as the Bongo dynasty faces test of strength

Gabon, officially known as the Gabonese Republic, is located on the west coast of Central Africa.

Rich in natural resources, the French-speaking country is one of the most affluent in the region, with the economy heavily reliant on oil, manganese, and timber exports.

Despite its economic prosperity, Gabon faces social inequality, political unrest, and environmental conservation challenges.

The country is set to hold its presidential, legislative, and local elections, with President Ali Bongo Ondimba vying for a third term amidst a recently united opposition in this small, oil-rich Central African nation.

Bongo and his main competitor, Albert Ondo Ossa, lead a group of 14 candidates contesting for the top position in this small state of just 2.3 million residents.

Over 850,000 Gabonese citizens are eligible to vote in the single-round election, which allows for victory with a relative majority. Polling stations opened at 7:00 AM local time (6:00 AM GMT).

Bongo, 64, assumed office in 2009 following the death of his father, Omar, who ruled the country for 41 years.

His opponent, Ondo Ossa, is a 69-year-old economics professor who served as a minister under Bongo from 2006 to 2009.

The main opposition platform, Alternance 2023, chose him as their sole candidate just eight days before the elections.

Ondo Ossa pledged to remove the current leader and his powerful Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), ending what he termed the “Bongo dynasty,” which has led the country for over 55 years.

Both candidates managed to gather thousands of supporters at campaign events in recent days.

However, the opposition criticized the introduction of a “single ballot,” a new voting system that, for the first time, combines the presidential and legislative votes, favoring the ruling party.

In the 2016 elections, Bongo narrowly defeated his rival by a mere 5,500 votes amidst allegations of electoral fraud.

According to the government, the situation sparked a wave of violence, resulting in at least five deaths, while the opposition claimed 30 lives were lost.

BONGO FAMILY

The Bongo family has been a dominant force in Gabonese politics for over five decades.

Omar Bongo Ondimba, the patriarch of the family, ruled Gabon for 41 years from 1967 until his death in 2009, making him one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world.

His son, Ali Bongo Ondimba, succeeded him as president, continuing the family’s political legacy amidst controversies related to electoral fraud and accusations of authoritarianism.

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