Court Upholds Bongo Win in Gabon

By Scott Stearns

Dakar
13 October 2009

Gabon's constitutional court has upheld Ali Ben Bongo's win in the August presidential election. Nine opposition candidates challenged those results alleging massive vote fraud.

After recounting results from more than 2,800 polling stations, Gabon's constitutional court confirmed the election of the son of the country's long-time leader Omar Bongo.

Announcing the results on state television, constitutional court president Marie Madeleine Mborantsuo reaffirmed Ali Ben Bongo's win with nearly 42 percent of the vote.

Former interior minister Andre Mba Obame and opposition leader Pierre Mamboundou each finished with about 25 percent of the vote. But the recount changed their order with Mamboundou now finishing slightly ahead of Obame.

Mborantsou says the court annulled results from one polling station. With Mr. Bongo winning more votes than any of his opponents, she says his election as president of the Republic of Gabon is confirmed.

The court's decision is final and clears the way for the president-elect's inauguration. The ruling rejects an electoral challenge by Obame, Mamboundou and other opposition candidates who accused electoral officials of massive vote fraud to benefit Mr. Bongo.

Obame has gone on a hunger strike to deplore what he says is "the installation of an era of dictatorship" in Gabon. He says fraudulent results are a humiliation for the massive numbers of people who voted for change.

Mr. Bongo ran the best financed campaign and was considered the front-runner since his father's death in June, after 42 years in power.

Former colonial power France welcomed his election, saying the vote took place under "acceptable conditions." Most electoral observers agree the vote was generally fair despite irregularities that included security forces at polling stations, some ballot boxes not being properly sealed, and the absence of opposition representatives during some vote counting.

When Mr. Bongo was first announced the winner following August's vote, police disbursed opposition demonstrators in the capital with tear gas. Protesters in the city of Port Gentil burned the French Consulate and attacked offices of French and U.S. oil firms.

Police say three people were killed in that violence. Human-rights groups say at least 15 people were killed by security forces. Interim President Rose Francine Rogombe says an investigation is under way to determine who is responsible for that violence.