Ali Bongo, the son of the late President Omar Bongo Ondimba, was sworn in Friday in Libreville as President of Gabon after officially winning the 30 August election with 41.79% of votes.
When taking the oath, he swore to devote himself to the well being of the Gabonese people “to preserve them from any harm, to respect and defend the Constitution and the rule of law.”
Ali Bongo’s victory was confirmed Monday by the Constitutional Court after conducting a recount of votes following the review of 11 appeals for annulment of the August 30 election at the request of nine candidates and one citizen. The Constitutional Court ruled the appeals as inadmissible and rejected them.
After the vote recount, the veteran opposition candidate Pierre Mamboundou was ranked second behind Ali Bongo with 25.64% of votes while former Interior Minister Andre Mba Obame was credited with 25.33% of the votes.
The first official results proclaimed on September 4 gave Ali Bongo victory with 41.73% of the votes with Andre Mba Obame (25.88%) and Pierre Mamboundou (25.22%).
The presidents of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema, Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, DR Congo, Joseph Kabila, Sao Tome, Fradique de Menezes, Benin’s Yayi Boni, Faure Gnassingbe of Togo and Mali’s Amadou Toumani Touré attended the swearing-in ceremony.
Source African Press Agency
