Ali Bongo defies doubters, says he will run for third mandate
By Vera Fon
Gabon’s President Ali Bongo Ondimba has defied doubters and dispelled rumours of his demise due to ill health with the announcement that he will run for a third term in office.
The 64-year-old Bongo, who suffered a stroke five years ago, has rarely been seen in public or during live broadcasts further fueling speculations that his health is failing.
Gabon’s President who has been in power for almost 14 years, announced on July 9, 2023 that he will stand for a third term in the presidential elections scheduled for August 26, 2023.
President Ali Bongo told a crowd of supporters in a speech broadcast live on his Facebook page at the Nkok Special Economic Zone (ZES), near the capital Libreville that “I am officially announcing today that I am a candidate for the presidential election”.
The 64-year-old head of state was first elected in 2009 following the death of his father Omar Bongo Ondimba, who had ruled the country for over 41 years and was narrowly re-elected in 2016.
Ali Bongo Ondimba Alain Bernard Bongo sometimes known as Ali Bongo, is the son of Omar Bongo, who was President of Gabon from 1967 until his death in 2009. During his father’s presidency, he was Minister of foreign affairs from 1989 to 1991, represented Bongoville as a member of parliament in the country’s National Assembly from 1991 to 1999, and was Minister of defense from 1999 to 2009. After his father’s death, he won the 2009 Gabonese presidential election although the election was marred by numerous irregularities, arrests, human rights violations and post-election protests and violence.
