Gabon's defiant opposition leader calls on people to reject new government

Record ID: 83571

  • Title: Gabon's defiant opposition leader calls on people to reject new government
  • Date: 29th September 2016
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (French) GABON OPPOSITION LEADER, JEAN PING, SAYING: "The morning after the constitutional court nominated the President of the Republic I condemned this 'military-electoral' coup d'etat. Since then you have seen that I have maintained a relative silence." SUPPORTERS AND OFFICIALS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (French) GABON OPPOSITION LEADER, JEAN PING, SAYING: "President, elected by you, the people of Gabon, I re-affirm, urbi et orbi, that I will not accept the government of Ali Bongo whose hands are soiled with the blood of our compatriots." (AUDIO: CHEERS FROM SUPPORTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (French) GABON OPPOSITION LEADER, JEAN PING, SAYING: "The Gabonese people are ready to take charge of their destiny." (SOUNDBITE) (French) GABON OPPOSITION LEADER, JEAN PING, SAYING: "I invite the Gabonese people to observe on October 6, 2016 a national day of contemplation for our dead and of compassion for all the mourning families and all the victims of barbarity which descended upon our country." PING FINISHING SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (English) GABON OPPOSITION LEADER, JEAN PING, SAYING: "Ali is calling for a dialogue. Can you call people to a dialogue with guns, with helicopter, with jet fighter, you know, with a gun, killing, jailing everybody? Is it what? Is it a dialogue? And for what? With whom he is going to dialogue? For what? So we said clearly that we refuse such a dialogue. We say that if a dialogue should be organised it should be under the one who win the election, and we are ready to do that with everybody, you know. And to go as far as possible to make Gabon a stable and viable state with democracy, with rule of law, with strong institutions, and not strong man." PING TALKING TO JOURNALISTS
  • Embargoed: 14th October 2016 19:51
  • Keywords: Jean Ping election opposition disputed Libreville Gabon Ali Bongo
  • Location: LIBREVILLE, GABON
  • City: LIBREVILLE, GABON
  • Country: Gabon
  • Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA00451MFLFR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Gabon's main opposition leader Jean Ping on Thursday (September 29) appealed to the people to reject the leadership of President Ali Bongo, calling for a "national day of contemplation" to be held on October.
    Speaking in the capital Libreville after Bongo's new prime minister said he had been tasked to form an open and inclusive government, Ping called on the Gabonese to hold a day of remembrance for those who died in the post-electoral violence sparked by opponents of Bongo who say the election was rigged.
    He also rejected the government's call for dialogue with the opposition and stakeholders.
    "Ali is calling for a dialogue. Can you call people to a dialogue with guns, with helicopter, with jet fighter, you know, with a gun, killing, jailing everybody," Ping said.
    Ping has also called on the international community to impose targeted sanctions on those who cracked down on protesters on the day the election results were announced and protesters set fire to the national assembly.
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