First presidential vote since navy coup

Individuals are heading to the polls to select the subsequent president of Gabon, the place for the primary time in a long time a Bongo member of the family isn’t on the poll.

Former President Ali Bongo was pressured from energy 19 months in the past by coup mastermind Gen Brice Oligui Nguema, who in flip has modified the structure to permit him to run in Saturday’s election.

A complete of eight candidates are within the operating to change into president, with just one girl within the race – Gninga Chaning Zenaba.

Different presidential challengers embody former Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie-by-Nze, who served beneath the Bongo regime, in addition to two stalwarts of the previous ruling PDG get together, Stéphane Germain Iloko and Alain Simplice Boungouères.

Election outcomes may begin being introduced on Sunday, however officers can proceed the rely into subsequent week.

Shut to 1 million persons are anticipated to vote in Gabon and its diaspora.

The small oil- and timber-rich central African nation is dwelling to only 2.5 million individuals. Regardless of its sources, about 35% of the inhabitants nonetheless stay beneath the poverty line of $2 (£1.50) a day.

In the course of the two-week marketing campaign interval, many of the candidates prioritised reacing voters within the inside whereas rallies within the capital, Libreville, have been restricted.

But massive numbers of posters and billboards for Oligui Nguema dominate Libreville’s streets, with only a few of his rivals’ adverts seen.

“I’ll vote for the builder Oligui Nguema,” reads a marketing campaign message on the highest of taxi driver Landry Obame-Mezui’s automobile, who likes the junta chief as a result of he “got here in with a brand new approach of doing issues – motion earlier than speeches”.

However critics of Oligui Nguema say he has presided over an unfair transitional and electoral course of, ushering in a brand new structure and electoral code designed to favour his personal candidacy within the election, regardless of his promise handy over energy to civilians.

An higher age restrict was additionally launched, making certainly one of Oligui Nguema’s hottest opposition rivals Albert Ondo Ossa ineligible.

Go “again to the barracks,” was the jibe from the person seen as Oligui Nguema’s closest rival within the vote, Bilie-by-Nze. He considers himself the change the nation wants, however his closeness to the ousted regime nonetheless attracts criticism from some.

After 55 successive years beneath President Omar Bongo and his son Ali Bongo, Gabonese individuals have advised the BBC that every one they’ve wished is an finish to the embezzlement, cronyism, indebtedness and unemployment they’ve endured.

“Our expectation is to have a brand new Gabon that’s well-governed, well-managed, the place there may be social justice, fairness and equal probabilities,” mentioned registered voter Noel Kounta. “We would like a developed and affluent Gabon”.

“I would love the [next] president to focus extra on jobs,” mentioned 30-year-old pharmacist Shonnys Akoulatele, who additionally mentioned she was underpaid in her present career.

“The unemployment price is so excessive, so they need to at the very least present some compassion in the direction of this difficulty, particularly within the non-public sector.”

Polls are set to shut at 18:00 native time (17:00 GMT) on Saturday.