Libreville, Gabon (AP) -The voters in the oil-rich Gabon made themselves on Saturday in a presidential election that the country’s military hoped that the country’s ruler would legitimize their power under control.
It is the first choice in a military coup in 2023 a political dynasty that lasted over 50 years. Analysts have predicted an overwhelming victory for the interim president who led the coup.
Around 920,000 voters, including over 28,000 outlands, are registered in more than 3,000 polling stations. A third of the country’s 2.3 million people lives in poverty despite its enormous oil assets.
The interim president, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, the former head of the Republican guard, stormed President Ali Bongo Ondimba almost two years ago. He hopes that he can consolidate his power in office for a term of seven.
Bongo was accommodated under house arrest after the coup, but released a week later due to health concerns. His wife and son were arrested and accused of corruption and embezzlement. Bongo itself was not charged.
After the coup, Oligui Nguema promised to return the power to the civilian population through “credible elections”. However, he proclaimed himself as an interim president and then the presidential candidate after the parliament of a new controversial election code enabled the acceptance of military personnel.
He has advertised himself as a guide who wants to combine the Gabonesian and give them hope and would like to carry out his presidential campaign under the slogan: “We build together.”
The new constitution of the country, which was adopted in a referendum in November, also set the term of office of the presidency for seven years instead of the unlimited term of the celebration year. It also states that family members have not been a president and abolished the position of the Prime Minister.
A challenger with an anti -colonial approach
A total of eight candidates run for the president. Oligui Nguema’s main challenger is, however, Bongo’s former Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie-by-Nze, who promised in a recently carried out interview with the Associated Press, “a break with the old system and a new independence. Political, diplomatic and economic independence”.
In a region in which France loses long -time allies in many of its former colonies, Gabon stands out as one of only a few in which this partnership was not threatened. It still has more than 300 French troops, one of only two African countries that are still organizing them.
Oligui Nguema has not signaled the French military presence, but bilie-by-nze said that “there is no subject from limits” if the connections between the two countries are negotiated.
Bilie-by-Nze also said during the interview with AP that he hadn’t expected that the choice would be fair or lucid. “Everything was done to complete the vote,” he said.
At the beginning of this week, Laurence Ndong, spokeswoman for Oligui Nguema, denied the allegations and said: “For the first time, Gabon will have a free and transparent choice.”
The voters release their ballot papers
The voters stood in the capital Libreville early Saturday when the election is peaceful.
Jonas Obiang told the AP when he was waiting to give up his ballot paper in Damas in the working class that he would choose bilie-by-NZE because he saw the coup from 2023 as a continuation of abuse.
“General Oligui Nguema led the country with the same people who looted the country, the former members of the Bongo Regime. I will not vote for him,” he said.
His views were repeated by Antoine Nkili, a 27-year-old unemployed man with a master’s degree.
“The choice is personal, but I tell you that the military failed for me,” said Nkili. “They promised to reform the institutions, but they don’t have it. Instead, they have enriched themselves.”
Jean Bie, 57, who works in the construction sector, said the military rule had benefited from the population.
“In 19 months, General Oligui Nguéma has completed several projects that are expected by the former regime. I vote for him and hope that he will do more in the next seven years,” he said.
