Post-vote violence engulfs Gabon
ERUPTION: BONGO’S WIN SPARKS PROTESTS Many injured in chopper bombardment and ground assault on opposition’s offices.
Gabon security forces stormed the opposition’s headquarters early yesterday, leaving several people injured as violence swept the capital after President Ali Bongo was declared the winner of contested polls.
Thousands of angry protesters took to the streets of Libreville accusing the government of stealing the election after Bongo won a second term by a thin margin over rival Jean Ping.
Gunfire crackled across the city and plumes of smoke billowed from the torched parliament building as antigovernment protesters clashed with heavily armed security forces, injuring six people.
Security forces surrounded the opposition headquarters overnight and attempted to storm the building.
“They attacked around 1am. It is the Republican Guard. They were bombarding with helicopters and then they attacked on the ground. There are 19 people injured, some of them very seriously,” said Ping, who was not at the party headquarters himself.
The opposition National Union party president Zacharie Myboto, who was inside the besieged building, said security forces were hurling tear gas canisters and had opened fire. “For nearly an hour the building has been surrounded. They want to enter the building ... it is extremely violent,” he said.
A government spokesperson said security forces had stormed the opposition headquarters to catch “criminals” who earlier set fire to the parliament building. “Armed people who set fire to the parliament had gathered at Jean Ping’s headquarters, along with hundreds of looters and thugs ... they were not political protesters but criminals,” said Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze.
A heavy military and police presence brought large parts of Libreville to a standstill and internet access has also been cut.
Results of the presidential election were announced on Wednesday afternoon, handing Bongo a second term. The results, which gave Bongo 49.8% to Ping’s 48.23%, remain provisional until they are approved by the constitutional court.
The opposition has described the election as fraudulent and called for voting results from each of Gabon’s polling stations to be made public to ensure the credibility of the overall outcome – a demand echoed by the US and European Union.
EU observers said the vote on Saturday was “managed in a way that lacked transparency”. Opposition delegates in the electoral commission have vowed to fight for a recount. “It’s going to be difficult to get people to accept these results,” one member of the electoral commission confided. “We’ve never seen results like these.” –