Gabon voted Saturday in what might be the closest election in the oil-rich nation that's been ruled by one family for 49 years.
The election pit President Ali Bongo, seeking a second seven-year term, against Jean Ping, a former chairman of the African Union Commission who broke with the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party in 2014. Eleven other candidates were on the ballot in the central African nation that rejoined the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries this year as oil revenue declined.
Bongo, 57, was first elected four months after the 2009 death in office of his father, Omar Bongo, who was at the time the world's longest-serving president.
Two prominent opposition candidates this month dropped out of the race and supported Ping. "Wisdom has prevailed within the ranks of the Gabonese opposition, resulting in my designation as leader," Ping, 73, said in an interview this month. "We got all what it takes to bring an end to the reign of this imposter and dictator."
The U.S. State Department, in a message warning citizens of possible post-election demonstrations in Gabon, said results may be announced as soon as Monday night.
With fewer than 2 million people in a nation about the size of the U.K., Gabon has Africa's lowest population density. Oil accounts for 85 percent of exports and about half of its gross domestic product, according to the government. Output declined from a peak of 370,000 barrels a day in 1997 to about 215,000 barrels daily last year.
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(Divine Ntaryike Jr. contributed to this report.)
