Welcome to Africanews

Please select your experience

Watch Live

News

news

Gabonese police summon former AU Chief Jean Ping

Gabon

It is barely two months to the presidential elections in Gabon and leading presidential candidate, Jean Ping; has received a police summon to appear at the station for questioning.

However, relatives of the former President of the African Union Commission suspect a conspiracy from the authorities to prevent him from taking part in the next presidential election.

The presidential candidate was expected on Friday morning to appear at the premises of the judicial police in the country’s capital, Libreville.

No reason has been giving for the summon.

#Gabon Jean-Ping convoqué à la Police Judiciaire. Jean Ping est opposant à PresidentABO pour la présidentielle16 pic.twitter.com/6ZjD9q8iKx

— Fernand Dédeh (FernandDdeh) June 3, 2016

The relatives of the former director in Omar Bongo’s cabinet mentioned a “settlement of accounts” and fear a great risk from the main opposition candidate in the presidential election to be held next August.

The summoning of Ping by the police comes after the opponent had filed a complaint for defamation against him.

Ping was accused recently of using a hate speech during a campaign.

A Brussels based NGO, Foundation for Democracy and Governance, had also filed a complaint in Paris with the prosecutor of the high court about a statement issued by the candidate.

The group said his statements spoken in French were broadcast on the social media.

View more