She brought her no-nonsense administrative expertise to bear on a notoriously ill disciplined multi-national body. But her critics, who have been as vociferous as they were when she came into job four four years ago will not allow this to he her heritage.

Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will never be forgiven by Francophone members for denying Gabon’s Jean Ping a second term as African Union Commission head.

And the fact that she broke with the AU tradition that the top commission job should not be occupied by one of the union’s most powerful members.

They recorded her many trips home taking care of domestic political business to argue that she put her selfish interests ahead of Africans.

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His chief opponent and former ally Jean Ping, the one-time African Union commission head, persists in saying the result was rigged.

ends intro

The constitutional court says it retallied all the votes from the poll. However it couldn’t do a full recount because all the ballots  were burned immediately after they were counted at the polling stations.

It’s changed some of the results, but declared Bongo still has the lead.

The streets of Libreville have been quiet since the court decision.

At least seven people died and more than 1,000 were arrested in violent protests following the initial announcement of the election result earlier this month.

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The arrival of an African Union mission in the capital Libreville has been postponed until further notice.

Former Gabonese foreign minister and African Union Commission head Jean Ping is hoping the constitutional court will  overturn an election result whose validity has been questioned at home and abroad.

Ping lost to the incumbent Ali Bongo by fewer than 6 000 votes.

Gabon is calmer now after protests at the results caused at least six deaths and more than a thousand arrests

Ping’s seeking  a recount in the province of Haut-Ogooue, a stronghold of the Bongo family, who have ruled the central African oil-producing nation of 1.8 million for nearly half a century.

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He accused them of overlooking irregularities in his rival Jean Ping’s camp.

The EU election observation team reports a clear anomaly in voting in Presdent Ali Bongo’s Haut-Ogooue province.

Results show an impossibly high turnout, overwhelming in favor of Bongo who won the election ten days ago by less than 6 000 votes.

Bongo says the EU team should have noted some anomalies in Jean Ping’s strongholds.

Bongo’s  ducked calls by Ping, the EU, France and United States for a recount, saying that only the Constitutional Court can order a repeat count.

Several people have been killed in violence triggered by the vote in the oil-rich African nation and more than 1 000 have been arrested.

The post Ali Bongo hits back at criticism of his election win in Gabon appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

France has recommended a recount and the African Union said it will send mediators after at least half a dozen deaths in post election violence.

ends intro

Gabon’s opposition leader Jean Ping – who has said the election was stolen – is calling  on the international community to help the people of Gabon.

EU election monitors have focused on Haut-Ogooue, a Bongo stronghold, where official figures showed he won 95,46 percent of the vote on a 99,9 percent turnout.

The EU noted that such a number means only 47 people in the area would not have voted. Other provinces showed on average a 48 percent voter turnout.

Bongo’s victory margin is fewer than 6 000 votes.

The post EU mission questions validity of Gabon’s presidential vote appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Vals’ remarks come hours after Gabon’s Justice Minister and second prime minister quit the government because of its failure to order a recount.

ends intro

President Ali Bongo’s claiming victory over former foreign minister and AU Commission President Jean Ping by a wafer-thin margin of some 6 000 votes.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls says there are some doubts about the result.

He says there needs to be a clear electoral process and it would be wise to do a recount.

France has already joined the European Union and the United States in calling for the results to be published according to each polling station.

It’s gone a step further calling for a recount.

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Jean Ping who narrowly lost the poll has gone into hiding after a military helicopter straffed his opposition party headquarters.

The United Nations Security Council and U.S. State Department have both appealed for calm  and urged Gabonese to accept the election result.

They’re also urging the security forces to accept the constitutionally guaranteed rights of Gabonese residents and citizens.

In the post-election violence, the National Assembly and other buildings have been set on fire.

Ali Bongo beat former chairman of the African Union Jean Ping 49.8 percent to 48.2 percent.

He came to power following the death of his father Omar Bongo in 2009, who held the presidency for 42 years.

The post UN and US urge calm and constitutionality in Gabon appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Opposition candidate Jean Ping says two people have been killed and many injured when security forces attacked his party’s headquarters.

Ali Bongo has won a second term as Gabon president with  49,8% of votes cast last Saturday.

Jean Ping polled 48,2% of the votes.

Violence broke out shortly after the announcement of results.

Government say they targeted armed criminals who torched parliament.

Ping, who disputes the result, says the republican guard attacked his party headquarters with helicopters and ground forces.

Bongo’s win gives his family a five-decade hold on power in the oil-rich little central-west African state that his father ruled for 42 years.

The post Gabon parliament torched after disputed election results are announced appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Both main candidates have claimed victory and alleged irregularities by their rivals.

EU observers declared Saturday’s poll to have lacked transparency.

ends intro

Former foreign minister Jean Ping, who’s the main opposition candidate among the 10 contenders against President Ali Bongo has held two press conferences since Saturday, urging incumbent president to accept the will of the people and step down.

Bongo’s camp, on the other hand has accused Ping of trying to cast doubt over the results of the ballot.

The 76-strong EU observer team gave the poll the thumbs down.

However UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has congratulated Gabon on holding peaceful elections and urged the candidates to accept the outcome.

Tensions are running high in Libreville, with many businesses shutting their doors and people buying up food for fear of street protests and clashes.

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Equally both President Ali Bongo and his chief rival Jean Ping say there has been massive fraud.

ends intro

There’s not going to be a run off in Gabon.

The contestant who polls the greatest number of votes will be declared president.

Ali Bongo says it will be him – extending the five decade family rule of the oil rich little Central-West African state that began with his father’s  42-year tenure.

Jean Ping, formerly the African Union Commission chief, who was Omar Bongo’s foreign minister and has three children with the late president’s daughter, insists he’s won.

Claims of irregularities by both sides have increased insecurity after  an uncharacteristically bitter campaign.

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