NDP statement on the situation in Gabon

The NDP Critic for Foreign Affairs, Hélène Laverdière (Laurier–Sainte-Marie), and the NDP Critic for International Development, Robert Aubin (Trois-Rivières), issued the following statement:

The NDP is deeply concerned by the acts of violence perpetrated following the presidential election on July 31, 2016, in Gabon, which have resulted in a number of victims. The European Union’s election observation mission observed irregularities in the presidential vote, leading to clashes in Libreville between security forces and those opposing the re-election of Ali Bongo Ondimba.

In the hope that trust can be rebuilt and future conflict can be prevented, we are supporting the call made by the United Nations, the European Union and the Gabonese opposition party to require that the relevant authorities recount the ballots in order to ensure the presidential election results are transparent and impartial.

We are also calling on the Canadian government to urge the Gabonese government to free the people who were arrested in the headquarters of opposition candidate Jean Ping. They are being kept in unsafe conditions and their fundamental rights have been violated. The unconditional and immediate release of these political detainees is an essential step to resolving this crisis.

We hope that all parties will be able to reach a peaceful resolution to this crisis and that the democratic choice of the Gabonese people will be respected.