Gabon President to run for re-election
BINTU JIDDA
Gabon President, Ali Bongo had indicated his interest to run for re-election in August.
Elections are scheduled for August 26.
Bongo’s re-election bid had been in doubt when he suffered a stroke in October 2018 and flown to Morocco for medical treatment.
He spent three months abroad but returned shortly after a coup attempt was thwarted in his absence.
Bongo said to cheering supporters “ because that nothing matters more than your success, I am announcing today that I am a candidate”.
Critics say such step was so to extend his family’s 56-year grip on power.
64 years old Bongo was president of Gabon for two seven-year terms since succeeding his father Omar, who died in 2009 after ruling since 1967.
Gabon has no constitutional term limits.
Both of Bongo’s election wins were disputed by the opposition, which said President Bongo won fraudulently.
His 2016 victory resulted in deadly clashes between police and protesters in which fire touched the parliament building .
