Gabon: UN Secretary General recognizes Ali Bongo as President-elect ⁰

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has congratulated the Gabonese leader, Ali Bongo following his electoral victory in the recent presidential election. In a telephone conversation on Sunday with President Ali Bongo Ondimba, Ban noted that “After a series of false information disseminated on many networks, I and the UN recognize you as the elected president.”

Ban Ki Moon also urged the losing candidate Jean Ping to use exclusively peaceful and legal means to seek recourse in any dispute relating to the outcome of the presidential election. The UN diplomat told the Gabonese President to take steps to end the violence that followed the disputed presidential election.

The Secretary General welcomed the release of 27 pro-Ping Jean militants and regretted the loss of life that occurred. Ban Ki Moon has asked his Special Representative for Central Africa, Abdoulaye Bathily, “to continue to work with the parties to defuse the tensions.”

By Chi Prudence Asong