Gabon’s Ambassador to the US [official website] said [NYT op-ed] Monday that ballots from the contested presidential election will be recounted in the coming days. The election results sparked days of protests and outrage when it was announced that incumbent President Ali Bongo Ondimba [official website, in French] won by less than 10,000 votes. The ambassador stressed that election was held in compliance with international law. He further claimed that representatives of the candidates also assisted with the initial counting of the ballots. However to ensure continued transparency of the electoral process, the ballots will be recounted:

Gabon invited more than 1,200 international observers from the European Union, the African Union, N.D.I. and other election experts to observe this process. All said, the election was free, fair, and transparent. The State Department and the African Union stated that any challenge to the election results conform to Gabonese election law. The Constitutional Court’s review will also conform to the law. A recount of the vote will be completed by the Constitutional Court and the winner confirmed.

The announcement comes after the contested election has continued to generate criticism and backlash. Jean Ping, an opposition leader in Gabon, had filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court in a move challenging the validity of the recent presidential vote [JURIST report]. A report released last week by Amnesty International condemned Gabon security forces [JURIST report] for using excessive force against protesters after the country’s disputed election. Amid recent protests and outbreaks of violence, Gabon’s Justice Minister Seraphim Moundounga resigned [JURIST report] rom his post earlier in September.