African Union accepts to mediate in Gabon election crisis

The African Union has accepted send a delegation to Gabon to help resolve a post-election standoff between President Ali Bongo, whose family has ruled for a half century, and his main opposition rival that triggered deadly riots last week.

Official results last Wednesday gave Bongo a slim victory and another seven-year mandate in the central African OPEC member. But challenger Jean Ping claimed he had won and accused security forces of using violence against his supporters.

Opposition anger at Bongo’s re-election boiled over into riots in the capital, Libreville, and other towns, killing six people, according to the government. The opposition says the death toll is much higher.

“It is an urgent matter and I expect the high-level delegation to be dispatched very soon,” African Union spokesman Jacob Enoh Eben said.

Chad’s President Idriss Deby, one of Africa’s longest-ruling presidents who currently holds the chair of the pan-African body, would likely to lead the talks, he added.