Gabon charges 2023 presidential elections candidate with terrorism

Gabonese authorities have hauled into prison Sosthene Orphee Lendjedi Ibola, a candidate for next year presidential election, on terrorism charges.
The leader of Orientation Nouvelle [New Orientation], was arrested on Nov. 10 in capital Libreville and sent to prison on Nov. 15.
The arrest came a few months after returning home after six-year exile in Canada and the U.S.
He was heard two times, November 14 and November 15 by the Public Prosecutor in connection with a fire at Oyem stadium, in the town of Oyem, in April 2020.
Authorities charge for calling for uprising, destruction of public facility and for fomenting a terrorist organization.
Ibola announced in March his candidacy for next year.
“I am a candidate because I love my country. Because the Gabonese people deserve better than what they have been reduced to so far. Faced with the lamentable, picturesque state in which our country finds itself, I cannot remain indifferent,” he told Media 241.
“I am a candidate because the [current] forces can’t bring anything better, or they don’t want to bring anything; they have sufficiently demonstrated this for over 50 years,” he added.
His party, commenting on the arrest, argues that the regime of President Ali Bongo Ondimba charged him in view of sidelining from next year’s race.