harinjaka’s blog maivana

Gabon elections – evidence of fraud?

This photo was sent to us by one of our Observers in Libreville. He says that the document appears to be a fake voting card used in the election on Sunday. There are already rumours of electoral fraud, but as yet, none has been backed up with proof.

Our Observer, Malagasy blogger Andriankoto Harinjaka Ratozamanana, was invited to Gabon by candidate Bruno Ben Moubamba, who asked him to observe the election and report any irregularities. He says that, of the cards featured in the image above, the one on the left is authentic, while the one on the right has been forged. The difference is quite clear - the one on the left has been stamped after the photo was attached, whereas the photo on the right was not stamped with the card, meaning that the photo can be changed - so that several people can vote with the same electoral card.

On this video, filmed by Andriankoto, we see passers-by discussing the authenticity of voting cards and how they are forged.

Even since the beginning of the campaign, candidate Bruno Ben Moubamba has been calling for "resistance" to what he says is a fraudulent election orchestrated by the government. He set up a group to oversee the election called "Gabon's Guardian Angels", which includes an initiative inviting voters to send their accounts of irregularities by SMS.  

Please be aware that this post represents the experiences of our Observer, it is not proof of mass fraud.

A presumed Congolese man thought to be being arrested for trying to vote

False documents and voting card of the alleged fraudster.

Our Observer says that many Gabonese voters complain that the amount of time they were given to get their voting card - apparently one week - was too short. Disgruntled voters in front of polling stations were flabbergasted by so many "foreigners", particularly Lebanese residents, who had come to sign themselves up to the electoral role, accusing them of being manipulated by the government. This kind of rumour, not confirmed, is adding to tensions sparked by the election.

In a school in the Akebe district of Libreville.

An election essential

Many polling stations opened later than planned on Sunday because of a lack of materials. Some blamed the disorganisation on an attempt to discourage voters. Below, a voting booth in the capital. Image taken by Adriankoto.