Uganda hasn’t been to Africa’s showpiece football competition since 1978. And as all finally came together, opposition activists in Gabon have called for a boycott of the African Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament which is due to kick off at the weekend.
According to BBC Afrique, the activists are protesting at the outcome of August’s presidential election which opposition leader Jean Ping claims to have won.
At a press conference in the capital, Libreville they announced their intention to target the tournament as part of their continued pressure on President Ali Bongo to recognise what they call his defeat.
More than six months after Mr Bongo was declared winner of the election, political tension between rival camps has not dissipated.
Mr Bongo’s offer for a national dialogue to end the controversy has been turned down by the opposition.
Opposition candidate Jean Ping had alleged fraud in one of the president’s main strongholds, Haut-Ogooue province, where Mr Bongo won 95% of the vote on a turnout of 99.9%.
However Gabon’s constitutional court upheld Mr Bongo’s election victory, rejecting calls for a recount.
