Gabon’s former ruler Omar Bongo will have his legacy continue as his son, Ali Ben Bongo, was pronounced the winner in only the third election to take place in the country. The former defense minister received nearly 140,000 votes ahead of his main rival and former interior minister Andre Mba Obame coming in with 87,000 votes.
The other main candidate, veteran opposition leader Pierre Mamboundou came in third with just over 50,000 votes with all three candidates claiming victory. Gabon’s Minister of Interior Jean Francois Ndougou declared Bongo the official winner on national television. After the announcement was made, protests emerged and police were forced to use tear gas to disperse opposition protestors.
Many opposition supporters who had camped out in the square outside the electoral commission were forced to leave when security officers began using tear gas.