Gabonese President Ali Bongo has embarked on a re-election campaign across the remote corners of the rainforested nation this month. This comes as a response to opposition claims that he lacks the strength and proven track record to fulfill the generous electoral promises he made during his bid for a third term. Critics liken him to another dictator in the making, asserting that he sees the presidential position as his birthright.
The forthcoming elections in the Central African state, scheduled for August 26, will encompass presidential, legislative, and local contests. Among the 18 competitors challenging Bongo, six have united behind a joint candidate, aiming to consolidate the opposition vote and put an end to his family’s 56-year hold on power.
This election will serve as a pivotal test of support for President Bongo. Detractors argue that he has not done enough to channel the country’s oil wealth towards the 2.3 million people living in poverty, constituting a third of the population. His ability to govern has also been questioned since he suffered a stroke in 2018.
In his extensive campaign efforts, the 64-year-old president has actively sought to challenge this perception. Promising increased family subsidies and reductions in public school fees, Bongo has taken to the stage with renewed confidence, a stark contrast to his infrequent and frail appearances on television following his illness.
“I am confident that we will secure victory, because I have a clear vision of what Gabon’s future should be. I have listened to you, and I understand your priorities and aspirations,” he declared during a recent rally.
Albert Ondo Ossa, a 69-year-old economics and management professor, stands as Bongo’s primary challenger. Nominated by an alliance of six main opposition parties just a week before the vote, Ondo Ossa’s campaign emphasizes the necessity for change and improved economic prospects. This message holds potential allure in a nation where one in three young individuals is unemployed, and the majority of the populace has only experienced Bongo’s rule.
“We must adopt a different approach to governing the country. Our youth deserve better prospects, particularly in a nation as resource-rich as ours,” Ondo Ossa asserted upon receiving the joint nomination.
The lead-up to the election has been marked by heightened tensions due to concerns over recent changes in the electoral system. These alterations have raised doubts about the credibility of the election results and the potential for unrest. Notably, violent clashes erupted after Bongo’s 2016 victory, resulting in the destruction of the parliament building.
Both of Bongo’s previous election wins have been met with opposition claims of fraud. Given Ondo Ossa’s strong-willed reputation, he is likely to challenge any indication of electoral irregularity. According to Modeste Abagha, a political analyst, “We are entering uncertain territory with Albert Ondo Ossa’s combative nature. He won’t accept defeat easily… A peaceful future is jeopardized if the election doesn’t proceed as it should.”
The opposition has already expressed apprehension over a new single ballot system, which necessitates voters to choose both a presidential candidate and a lawmaker from the same party. Additionally, the opposition opposes a recent constitutional amendment that eliminates the requirement for two rounds of voting for the president, alleging that this favors Bongo.
Although Bongo’s camp portrays him as the frontrunner, there are no reliable polls to validate this assertion. His defeat would not only signify the end of his family’s longstanding dominance but could also undermine his ambitious environmental agenda. This agenda has played a role in preserving Gabon’s portion of the Congo basin rainforest and maintaining the country as one of the world’s few net absorbers of carbon dioxide, a climate-warming gas.
As the campaigning phase wraps up, the streets of Libreville, the capital, have remained calm. First-time voter Alban Mpiga intends to vote for Bongo, expressing that “had he not experienced the well-known illness, our country would be farther ahead in terms of development.” However, skepticism persists, with city council worker Gaetan Moussavou asserting, “His father left us a disaster-stricken country. In his 14 years in power, he has achieved nothing. That’s why I will vote against him.”
Dear reader, the question beckons: Do you support Bongo’s pursuit of a third term?
