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The general elections in Gabon are currently arousing a lively controversy concerning the vote of Gabonese living abroad. As the country prepares for a triple ballot comprising presidential, legislative and local elections, some Gabonese living abroad risk being disenfranchised due to the reduction in the number of polling stations.
The NGO Tournons La Page expresses its concern about the reduction in the number of consular electoral commissions. While in 2016, more than thirty polling stations were open around the world, only fourteen commissions will be deployed this year. This situation deprives many Gabonese living abroad of their fundamental right to participate in the democratic life of their country.
This decision provoked strong reactions, particularly in countries such as Canada, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Germany, where the Gabonese diaspora is deprived of the right to vote. Tournons La Page denounces this injustice and believes that the government is deliberately depriving these Gabonese of their fundamental rights.
The responsibilities are rejected both by the Gabonese Elections Center and by the government. The Center says the Interior Ministry is responsible for setting up polling stations abroad, while the government says the CGE compiled the list. This controversy is likely to lead to problems and disputes.
The anger is particularly palpable among Gabonese in Marseille, where several polling stations have been abolished. Hundreds of voters also found themselves excluded from the electoral lists. The opposition to President Ali Bongo denounces a maneuver aimed at influencing the results in its favor.
The Gabonese diaspora is getting organized and planning rallies to denounce this situation. Actions are planned in front of the town hall of Marseille and in front of the Gabonese embassy in Paris, in order to protest against this obstacle to the right to vote and to demand their fair participation in the elections.
It is essential to guarantee the right to vote for all citizens, including those living abroad. By reducing the number of polling stations and excluding some Gabonese in the diaspora, the government risks undermining the credibility and legitimacy of the general elections. It is necessary to rectify this situation and allow everyone to have their voice heard in the democratic process