The Constitutional Court has dismissed a case filed by the opposition seeking the nullification of the election of an assemblyman who subsequently defected to the ruling party, Gabon’s Africa Number 1 radio reported yesterday. The defection of Koudou Farah from an opposition party to the Mouvance Presidentielle after his election in last year’s legislative polls gave President Ange Felix Patasse a majority in the 109-seat National Assembly and led to a political impasse in the country. The radio quoted an opposition politician as calling the court’s decision a “show of unqualified injustice.” The UN Security Council last week expressed concern about the political tensions in the country. The current mandate of the UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA) expires on Sunday and Secretary-General Kofi Annan has recommended its extension until presidential elections to be held sometime this year.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions