Gabonese opposition figures have surprised many by selecting a “consensus” candidate to challenge President Ali Bongo in the upcoming presidential elections. The announcement came from Francois Ndong Obiang, president of the Alternance 2023 opposition grouping, on Friday (Aug. 18). The chosen candidate, Albert Ondo Ossa, a former education minister, will now spearhead the opposition’s bid to unseat President Bongo, whose family has ruled the oil-rich West African state for 55 years.
Addressing a gathering of opposition members at the headquarters of the Reagir party, 69-year-old Ondo Ossa declared, “You have before you the consensus candidate.” He expressed his gratitude to all the party presidents and called for a strong mobilization as there is only a short time left before the August 26 polls.
Launched in January, Alternance 2023 is an alliance that brings together six opposition groups. It has been holding regular talks with the aim of establishing a joint candidacy, which it sees as crucial to avoid splitting the opposition vote and potentially benefitting the incumbent president.
The Gabonese Election Centre has already validated 19 out of the 27 candidacy applications received, a higher number compared to the 2016 elections. Among the opposition candidates initially in the running were Alexandre Barro Chambrier of the opposition Rally for the Fatherland and Modernity (RPM) party, Paulette Missambo, the leader of the National Union, and Raymond Ndong Sima, a former prime minister under Bongo.
However, now all six candidates belonging to the opposition alliance have pledged to withdraw their candidacies in favor of the consensus candidate, according to Ndong Obiang.
President Bongo, 64, officially announced in July that he would seek re-election, having taken over the presidency from his father Omar Bongo Ondimba in 2009. In the previous election in 2016, Bongo narrowly defeated his rival Jean Ping by just 5,500 votes. Ping contested the results, claiming the election had been rigged.
In 2018, President Bongo suffered a stroke and spent several months recovering on the sidelines. This raised concerns about his fitness to run the nation, with the opposition questioning his ability to govern effectively.
The upcoming elections are crucial for Gabon, as the country looks to solidify its democratic progress and ensure a peaceful transition of power if President Bongo is indeed unseated. The unity within the opposition is seen as a positive step towards achieving this goal.
The consensus candidate, Albert Ondo Ossa, will now need to rally support from the Gabonese electorate and present a strong and compelling vision for the future of the country. With the backing of the opposition alliance, he stands a better chance of mounting a formidable challenge against the incumbent president.
As the election day approaches, all eyes will be on Gabon to see if this united opposition can pose a significant threat to President Bongo’s hold on power or if the incumbent will continue his family’s long-standing rule over the oil-rich nation. The outcome of this race will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for Gabon’s political landscape and its future trajectory.
Image Credit: REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri
