The Central African nation was holding presidential, legislative, and local polls simultaneously for the first time.
Gabon’s president Ali Bongo Ondimba, who succeeded his father Omar in 2009, is seeking a third term against 18 challengers.
Voting was due to start at 0700 GMT, but at least five polling stations in the capital Libreville saw voters waiting hours for polls to open, a Reuters reporter said. There is no fixed deadline for the announcement of results, but joint opposition candidate Albert Ondo Ossa, 69, and his alliance on Saturday were already questioning the legitimacy of the outcome.
Bongo has sought to disprove this image on a wide-ranging campaign trail. He has promised to create more jobs, boost micro-loan programmes, and cut public school fees. “Ali Bongo still has time to negotiate. The only negotiation that is necessary is his departure; 60 years in power is too much,” he said.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Gabon votes as President Bongo seeks to extend 56-year family ruleDetractors have questioned the 64-year-old’s fitness to govern after a stroke in 2018.
Read more »
Gabon’s Bongo aims for third term in nationwide pollLIBREVILLE: Voters in Gabon were called to the polls on Saturday for a triple election in which President Ali Bongo Ondimba, scion of a family that ha...
Read more »
Taiwan’s president to visit last African ally EswatiniChina is whittling away at the small number of countries still sticking by Taipei.
Read more »
Xi pledges to support Africa’s industrialisation at BRICSJOHANNESBURG: China’s leader Xi Jinping told African leaders at a meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit on Thursday that China would launch ini...
Read more »
Singapore authorities arrest 130 drug offendersSINGAPORE: Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) arrested 130 suspected drug offenders in an island-wide operation from Aug 14-25, Xinhua quoted ...
Read more »
BNM inks MoUs with Indonesia, Thailand to promote local currency transactionsBNM is collaborating with central banks of Indonesia and Thailand to expand the use of local currencies for bilateral transactions.
Read more »