Ali Bongo Ondimba, who has been Gabon's president for almost 14 years, has officially announced his intention to throw his hat into the ring for a third term in the upcoming presidential elections, scheduled for August 26.
"I officially announce today that I am a candidate," the president said in a speech to his supporters at the event held at the Nkok Special Economic Zone, near the capital Libreville on Sunday.
The incumbent head of state was first elected in 2009. Later, he won the 2016 presidential election, with just 5,500 more votes than his rival Jean Ping, who claimed the polls were rigged.
The candidacy of the 64-year-old leader is expected to be ratified at a special congress of his Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) on Monday. The party has strong majorities in both chambers of parliament.
The opposition's failure to form a coalition and agree on a single candidate for the presidential election has led some 15 candidates to announce their intentions to run against Ondimba.
In particular, Paulette Missambo, leader of the National Union Party, announced her candidacy, as did Alexandre Barro Chambrier, a Gabonese politician and member of the National Parliament who served as Gabon's Minister of Oil, Mining and Hydrocarbons in 2011-2012. The official deadline for candidates to announce their run is Tuesday.
In April, a few months prior to the elections, the parliament voted to reduce the presidential term from seven to five years. The constitutional amendments also changed the presidential election to a single round of voting by majority.
In August, the Gabonese people will also go to the polls to vote in the legislative and municipal elections.