Gabon court declares Bongo victor in disputed presidential election

[JURIST] The Constitutional Court of Gabon upheld on Monday the presidential election victory of Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba. Bongo, former minister of defence and foreign affairs and of son of long-time Gabonese president Omar Bongo, received over 40 percent of the vote, but was accused of fraud by his challengers. The court rejected the claims filed by the opposition, and ordered that the inauguration can take place in the coming days. Bongo represents a minority party in the nation. This is believed to have played a part in the violence that erupted following the election. Former colonial power, France, had previously acknowledged Bongo as the electoral victor.
Accusations of election fraud and related violence have been widespread in Africa. Earlier this month the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced it will prosecute responsible parties for the December 2007 Kenyan post-election violence. In 2008, opposition parties in Zimbabwe alleged that the government rigged the results of the re-election of President Robert Mugabe. In 2007, the Nigerian presidential election received sharp criticism from outside observers and opposition leaders, despite what appeared to be a landslide victory for Umaru Yar’Adua.

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