Ali Bongo Ondimba, the president of the oil-rich African nation of Gabon, declared on Sunday that he would run for a third term in office.
In a speech that was live streamed on his Facebook page, he addressed a crowd of fans, “I officially announce today that I am a candidate.”
In 2009, 64-year-old Bongo succeeded his father, Omar Bongo Ondimba, who had ruled the nation for 41 years.
In 2016, the president received just 5,500 more votes than his opponent Jean Ping, who alleged that the election had been rigged.
In 2018, Bongo had a stroke and spent months rehabilitating, which led the opposition to doubt his suitability to lead the country.
The opposition refers to the Bongo family as a “dynastic power” because they have already dominated the nation for 55 years.
However, the opposition has been unable to settle on a single presidential candidate, allowing about 15 individuals to declare their candidacies.
The Gabonese parliament decided to change the constitution in April, cutting the president’s seven-year term to five.
Some opposition members criticized the modifications, particularly the removal of the two-round voting process, for “facilitating the re-election” of Bongo.
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