Gabon’s Justice Minister Seraphim Moundounga resigned from his post on Monday amid mass protests concerning last week’s disputed presidential election results. Elected president Ali Bongo received 49.8 percent of the vote against 48.23 percent for rival Jean Ping. Ping supporters are claiming that the results were fraudulent and have challenged the election. The opposition questions the results from Bongo’s home province, Haut-Ogooue, where the voter turnout was 99.93 percent and Bongo received 95 percent of those votes. Other provinces had a turnout between 45 percent and 71 percent. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls called for a recount [RFI report] on Tuesday and for information concerning 15 French nationals that went missing after the protests. Moundounga resigned in an effort to encourage the government to engage in a recount.

As a result of the election, protests began in Gabon and at least three people have been killed, one hundred injured, and eight hundred arrested in mass protests [CFR 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. Protesters attacked the national assembly building, and in response police used tear gas and arrested hundreds that emerged from the building. Ping claims that his headquarters were bombed by security forces killing at least two people.