Voting has taken place in the oil-rich central African nation of Gabon where President Ali Bongo – who came to power when his father Omar died in 2009 – is hoping to win a third term.
He faces competition from 13 people. As polls closed, the government announced a curfew and suspension of internet access for security reasons.
On Saturday main opposition candidate Albert Ondo Ossa had complained that many polling stations lacked ballot papers bearing his name.
“Gabon is not the property of the Bongos,” he said on the campaign trail. Mr Ondo Ossa, a former economics professor and one-time education minister, was appointed as leader of the Alternance 2023 coalition just last week.
The coalition says the names of some of those who have withdrawn from the presidential race are still on the ballot sheet.
As in previous general elections, there are serious concerns about the process.
Both of Mr Bongo’s prior wins were disputed as fraudulent by opponents, and this time around controversial changes were made to voting papers just weeks before election day.
For the first time, voters were asked to mark a single ballot with their choice of a president and MP who must belong to the same party.
Experts say this disadvantages independent candidates – notably Mr Ondo Ossa, who heads the main opposition coalition but lacks a party of his own.
