The general elections in Gabon scheduled for August 26, 2023 are sparking controversy over the vote of Gabonese abroad. Indeed, the organization Tournons La Page is concerned about the limited number of polling stations that will be open abroad, thus depriving some citizens of their right to vote.
According to Tournons La Page, only 14 consular electoral commissions will be deployed in 12 countries, much less than during the 2016 presidential elections when more than thirty polling stations were accessible to Gabonese living abroad.
This situation worries the NGO, which believes that many Gabonese living in countries such as Canada, Burkina Faso, Ghana or even Germany will be deprived of their inalienable right to vote.
Responsibilities for setting up these polling stations are controversial. The Gabonese Elections Center (CGE) claims that it is the Ministry of the Interior which is in charge of this implementation, while a source in the ministry criticizes the CGE for having drawn up a reduced list, eliminating certain offices in countries where many Gabonese reside.
This case risks creating litigation and calls into question the transparency of these elections. In Marseille, the anger is palpable among the Gabonese of the diaspora who see their names removed from the electoral rolls and their polling stations closed. This situation is perceived as an obstacle to the right to vote and the opposition denounces a maneuver aimed at influencing the results in favor of outgoing President Ali Bongo.
This controversy highlights the stakes of the participation of Gabonese abroad in the general elections and raises questions about the impact on democracy and the representativeness of the vote of citizens living abroad.
In conclusion, the voting situation of Gabonese abroad for the general elections of 2023 is a source of concern and dispute. The reduction in the number of polling stations accessible to the Gabonese diaspora raises questions about the transparency and inclusiveness of the electoral process