The electoral campaign in view of the general elections of August 26 in Gabon got off to a very timid start. Apart from Ali Bongo’s opening meeting, the atmosphere and the decor have not really changed in Libreville, the Gabonese capital. A lack of enthusiasm is felt in the city, as the country prepares to organize three elections on the same day: presidential, legislative and local.
Only the outgoing president, Ali Bongo, seems to be active at the start of the electoral campaign. The inhabitants of Libreville show a total lack of enthusiasm as the elections approach. The streets of the city are not invaded by giant meetings, posters and banners are rare. Only a few panels display Ali Bongo’s candidacy. Residents of Akanda district regret the lively atmosphere of previous elections and describe the current situation as “a void”.
According to some residents, only the ruling party has started its campaign, while the opposition is continuing consultations in the hope of finding a single candidate before launching its campaign. This lack of commitment is also felt at the level of the financing of electoral campaigns by the State. Some candidates raise the issue and believe that funding should be provided, given that the presidential election is the most important in the country.
The main candidates have currently deployed their efforts inside the country, hoping to end their campaign in Libreville, where nearly half of Gabon’s population resides.
Despite the high stakes of these elections, the atmosphere and enthusiasm surrounding the electoral campaign in Gabon remain very limited. It remains to be seen whether this will evolve over the next few days, with hopes of growing interest from voters