Gabon tense as court rules on poll

Tension high as decision in favour of President Bongo could spark fresh wave of protests

Tension mounted in Gabon yesterday as the nation awaited a final ruling by the Constitutional Court on who will be the next president following a bitterly-contested election that triggered days of deadly violence.

Fear was high that a ruling in favour of President Ali Bongo, who won by a wafer thin margin provoking charges of fraud, would spark a fresh wave of furious opposition protests like those which followed the announcement of his victory.

With the country in political limbo for nearly a month, the court was to rule on whether to uphold Bongo’s victory by fewer than 6,000 votes, or to overturn it.

Defeated challenger Jean Ping, a career diplomat and a former top official at the African Union, filed a legal challenge earlier this month, demanding a recount.

Stockpiling food

Across the capital Libreville, the atmosphere was on a knifeedge with riot police deployed at key junctions across the city in order to head off any more unrest should the judges decide against 73-year-old Ping.

Wary locals were also stockpiling food to last through the weekend, worried that any fresh unrest could see the streets blocked with roadblocks and checkpoints.

Officers in riot gear had fanned out through the city on Thursday ahead of the decision, blocking off traffic along a seafront road close to the court which also runs alongside the presidential palace although by Friday morning, it had been reopened.

Ping has warned the country could face serious instability if the court rejects his appeal for a recount.

But Gabonese ministers have vowed to maintain order, and warned Ping he could be held responsible if fresh violence breaks out.

The court met on Thursday and has retired to consider its verdict. Under the constitution, the 15-day deadline for resolving electoral disputes was yesterday, although the announcement could still be delayed until today.