#Gabon2016
Unrest followed contested election results in Gabon. We will be posting a selection of links, and curated highlights from news and social media here.
1 SEPTEMBER
The Red Cross is in action dealing with consequences of civil unrest.
Red Cross volunteers on front lines of relief as clashes increase following Gabon elections. pic.twitter.com/AmoLgYTyQF
— Kima Mirabelle (@rickimira2) September 1, 2016
Data from internet routing provider RIPE.net confirms reports of net restrictions in Gabon.
Allegations of fraud centre on the eastern region of Haut-Ogooué, where the incumbent won a far higher perfcentage of the vote on a improbably high turnout. The true population size of Haut-Ogooué became a battle on Wikipedia (see below).
Less than six thousand votes separate the winner and runner-up in the election.
A press release from Afrobarometer says that the Gabonese electoral commission is not trusted by a majority of the public.
AFP: Gabon police arrest 200 over post-election looting
A statement from the European Commission calls for publication of results by polling station.
Canada calls for more detail in vote count:
We call on authorities to issue results for each polling station, to ensure electoral process is transparent and credible. #Gabon2016
— Foreign Policy CAN (@CanadaFP) August 31, 2016
Victory speech from Ali Bongo: "This election was exemplary."
Votes from one region are particularly disputed. The number of votes in Haut-Ogooué Province is critical to the final result, and the population of the region has been manipulated on Wikipedia. A user at the IP number, 129.138.2.199, registered in New Mexico, edited the page to reduce the population from over 200,000 to 50,000. Opposition supporters are crying foul. The squabble has led to Wikipedia editors freezing the page.
Ping claimed late Wednesday his headquarters were under attack from the presidential guard.
Mon quartier général de campagne est pris à l'assaut à l'instant par la garde républicaine #Gabon
— Jean Ping (@pingjean) August 31, 2016
Statement from opposition candidate Jean Ping on Facebook: "With the greatest firmness, I reject this attempt by Mr Alo Bongo to repeat his fraud of 2009."
31 AUGUST:
The US State Department is "deeply concerned".