France’s foreign minister has said the constitutional court of Gabon must examine a challenge to the country’s presidential election by opposition candidate Jean Ping. <br /><br /> “France continues to follow carefully developments in Gabon,” Jean-Marc Ayrault said in a statement. “The constitutional court has been asked to examine the provisional presidential results.<br /><br /> “It must examine these with transparency and impartiality and all means must be put in place to ensure the respect of its principles and establishment of the sincerity of the vote.”<br /><br /> GRAPHIC: Mapping Gabon’s post-election insecurity. https://t.co/c7vr0QjU95 pic.twitter.com/HhWEZxjz8l— Stratfor (@Stratfor) September 6, 2016<br /><br /> President Ali Bongo was declared the winner of the disputed vote in the central African nation, but Ping says he is the president, based on his own compilation of results. <br /><br /> Both candidates have accused the other of fraud. <br /><br /> Hinting at a return to street protests, Ping said: “If … the Gabonese people don’t accept the constitutional court’s decision [if it rules against a recount], the people will assume their responsibility, and I will stand by their side,” Ping said.<br /><br /> Gabon: A Family Affair<br />How are the main players in the election power struggle related to former leader Omar Bongo? pic.twitter.com/RsehlOIjgZ— BBC Africa (@BBCAfrica) September 8, 2016<br /><br /> Bongo was first elected seven years ago after the death of his father Omar. He had ruled the former French colony for forty-two years. <br /><br /> Ali Bongo told a Paris radio interviewer the Constitutional court will decide whether a recount should take place. <br /><br /> “I have already shown that I am a democrat, and that I am in favour of the Constitutional Court taking up the case and confirming my election victory. That’s what I am expecting,” Bongo said.<br /><br /> Shops and homes have been looted in the capital Libreville and other cities. <br /><br /> Ping says between 50 and 100 people have died in unrest since the results were announced, far more than the government’s death toll of six.<br /><br /> Capturing the powerful images of Gabon’s unrest https://t.co/qtAfr4c4J4 mlongari pic.twitter.com/Mk7W5OrpHF— BBC Africa (BBCAfrica) September 8, 2016<br />
