[JURIST] Jean Ping, an opposition leader in Gabon, has filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court in a move challenging the validity of the recent presidential vote. Ping, who was also running for president, lost in the election last week by a very small margin, which brought criticism from many and spurred his request that the votes be recounted [Al Jazeera report]. Ping has previously expressed doubts about the court’s independence.

As a result of the election, protests began in Gabon and at least three people have been killed, 100 injured and 800 arrested in mass protests [CFR report]. Earlier this week President Ali Bongo Ondimba refused to address the EU’s recent findings regarding an anomaly in last week’s presidential election. Following his loss to Bongo in the poll results, opposing candidate Ping questioned [JURIST report] 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. 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. Amid recent protests and outbreaks of violence, Gabon’s Justice Minister Seraphim Moundounga resigned [JURIST report] from his post on Tuesday.