More than 200 people have been arrested for looting in Gabon’s capital, Libreville, where violence broke out following a disputed presidential election result, the police chief said on Thursday.
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Yet, the presidency denied the reported fire at the parliament, saying that protesters had lit bonfires around the building and they had been dispersed by police, according to Soi.
Ping, a political insider who has served as foreign minister and African Union Commission chairman, was a close ally of the late president and fathered two children with his daughter.
Opposition candidate demanded the national election commission CENAP to “proceed with the counting of the results polling station by polling station”.
Bongo’s main opponent, Jean Ping, has said his campaign has evidence the election was rigged and plans to present it to Gabon’s constitutional court.
Mr Ping disputes the result.
“The United States is deeply concerned regarding unfolding events in Gabon”.
“Results like Ali Bongo’s are the hallmarks of dictators and tyrants who refuse to give up power”, Ping said in an e-mailed statement.
Ping’s team has called for a recount in the Haut Ogooue region where turnout was recorded at 99 percent. In the ensuing clashes several people were killed, buildings looted and the French consulate in the economic capital Port-Gentil torched.
European Union observers criticized what they called a “lack of transparency”, and the EU called for electoral officials to publish results from all polling stations.
Former colonial ruler France’s foreign ministry said the manner in which the final results were announced on Wednesday was a source of concern.
The country rejoined the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries this year amid a slump in crude revenue.
He benefited from being the incumbent in a country with a patronage system lubricated by oil.
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The campaign period was marked by months of bitter exchanges between the two camps, including accusations, and strenuous denials, that Bongo was born in Nigeria and therefore ineligible to run. Gabon has large oil reserves, and wealth from them has made the Bongos rich, even though much of the population still lives in poverty.
