AU to send observers for Gabon presidential elections

The African Union Commission has approved the deployment of an African Union Elections Observer mission for Gabon’s Presidential elections set to take place on 27 August.

The AU Observer mission draws its mandate from various African Union instruments, the national legislation of Gabon and the international and regional standards and good practices, among others.

The mission will consist of 52 commissioners who will be expected to provide an accurate and impartial reporting and assessment of the elections in the Republic of Gabon, including the degree to which the conduct of this election meets regional, continental and international standards for democratic elections.

Gabon president Ali Bongo Ondimba had warned of possible unrest during the elections after the opposition had started announcing that the election will not be transparent.

The opposition had maintained Bongo was ineligible to participate in the elections and claimed he was adopted from Nigeria in the 1960s by his father and long-ruling former president Omar Bongo Ondimba.