Gabon high court upholds incumbent leader’s victory

LIBREVILLE, Gabon (AP) — Gabon’s constitutional court has upheld incumbent President Ali Bongo Ondimba’s victory in last month’s presidential election.

Many fear the announcement early Saturday could unleash further unrest in the oil-rich nation where the Bongo family has been in power for half a century.

Tensions have been high ever since provisional results showed that the president had beaten opposition candidate Jean Ping by less than 2 percentage points.

Ping also claimed victory in the Aug. 27 vote and went to court seeking a recount.

The opposition says as many as 100 people have died in the violence, while the government said three were killed. More than 1,200 people have been detained in the aftermath.

Bongo came to power since 2009 after his father Omar Bongo died following 42 years at the helm.