Protesters storm Gabon embassy in Paris demanding Bongo to step down

Over 300 protesters took to the streets of Paris on Saturday to protest the victory of Gabon’s incumbent President Ali Bongo at last weekend’s poll.

Opposition candidate Jean Ping does not recognise the results of the poll and declared himself president-elect on Friday.

Supporters of Ping in Paris marched from the Trocadero to Gabon’s embassy carrying banners with the posters calling for Bongo to step down.

We’re here because we don’t understand, for 50 years in the election process, each time the Bongos rig the elections, every time they rig the elections. This is why everyone is here

Violence erupted across the Central African country on Wednesday following the announcement of a close victory for Bongo, who was first elected in 2009 after the death of his father Omar Bongo who ruled Gabon for 42 years.

Ping called upon the international community to intervene, but analysts say intervention from abroad is unlikely as is a widespread people power revolution to unseat Bongo.