Gabon Riots After Ali Ben Bongo is Named President

Genna Sherwood

09/04/09

4:31 p.m.

There was an up roar among the people Gabon, an oil rich west central country in Africa, when Ali Ben Bongo was elected as president. Before presidency, Bongo was already in the realm of politics. In 1989, he became the foreign affairs minister of Gabon, but only for a mere two years. He was forced to give up his position because he was too young. From 1999-2009 he served as defense minister.

People of country say the reason for Bongo’s victory was credited to his father, Omar Bongo, who was ruler of the country before him since 1968. The 10,000 citizens of Gabon were advised to remain inside until the trouble died down. In Gabon’s second city, Port Gentil, the enraged people raided a jailhouse and freed their inmates. Andre Mba Obame came in second in the election. He claimed- along with the opposition leaders- the selection of Bongo was a fraud and he was in fact the winner. The third place candidate, Pierre Mamboundou’s head and shoulder were injured after the election; but he is now in safe conditions.

I feel as if there was no need for a “riot”. But who am I to say what a country should do? There is no telling whether or not the election of Ali Ben Bongo was rigged but if majority of the people in that country feel as if it was, there is bound to be some trouble. I think in countries like this there should be more rules maybe to keep people from injuring innocent people over a presidential election. Over here when Obama was elected there were no life threatening riots of any sort. The government should enforce more consequences on the people if they do such a thing. No matter if the up roar or not, he will STILL be president. That’s just how it works. I am going to read more on this story in the next few weeks to see what happens. If anyone wants to know more…let me know.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8236607.stm