“I’m The President” Gabon’s Opposition Leader Jean Ping Declares
The civil unrest that accompanied the announcement of election results in the small West African country of Gabon doesn’t seem like it would abate anytime soon as the opposition leader, Mr Jean Ping, has declared himself the president, Nation is reporting.
“I am the president,” Mr Jean Ping told a press conference at his home in Libreville late Friday. “The whole world knows who is president of the republic, it’s me Jean Ping,” he continued before demanding for the electoral authorities to recount the votes.
But the Gabonese authorities aren’t paying him any attention and have categorically refused any recount. According to the authorities, there is no such procedure in the country’s electoral law.
Following the declaration of president Ali Bongo as the winner of the elections, huge crowds of angry supporters have taken to the streets, vandalising properties including the country’s parliament building which was razed.
But Mr Bongo’s government launched a fierce crackdown with security forces arresting around a thousand people. Five people have so far been reportedly killed following the violent unrest which greeted the announcement of election results.
“I am the president,” Mr Jean Ping told a press conference at his home in Libreville late Friday. “The whole world knows who is president of the republic, it’s me Jean Ping,” he continued before demanding for the electoral authorities to recount the votes.
But the Gabonese authorities aren’t paying him any attention and have categorically refused any recount. According to the authorities, there is no such procedure in the country’s electoral law.
Following the declaration of president Ali Bongo as the winner of the elections, huge crowds of angry supporters have taken to the streets, vandalising properties including the country’s parliament building which was razed.
But Mr Bongo’s government launched a fierce crackdown with security forces arresting around a thousand people. Five people have so far been reportedly killed following the violent unrest which greeted the announcement of election results.
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