LIBREVILLE, Gabon (AP) – Postelection violence in Gabon has killed between 50 and 100 people, the opposition presidential candidate said Tuesday, a toll much higher than the government’s count of three in days of violent demonstrations against the president’s re-election.
Jean Ping has declared he is the rightful winner of the Aug. 27 vote, though election commission results showed President Ali Bongo Ondimba won by 1.57 percentage points. Clashes quickly broke out in this oil-rich Central African country after the results were announced last week.
It is difficult to independently verify reports of deaths, as the internet has been shut off since Aug. 31.
International pressure is growing on Gabon’s government to show transparency in the vote results, with French Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Tuesday telling RTL radio that “common sense would command a recount of the ballots. “
European Union observers have said the vote lacked transparency, and countries including the U.S. and France have called on the government to publish results by individual polling stations.