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President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, announced on Sunday that he would be seeking a third term in office.
The president took over from his father Omar Bongo Ondimba in 2009 and was narrowly re-elected in 2016.
“Dear compatriots, fellow Gabonese, to continue to write this history and this future together, because nothing matters more than the success of our country, because nothing matters more than your success, I am officially announcing here today that I am a candidate!”, announced the president during a rally.
The failure of the opposition to agree on a single candidate for the presidential election left some 15 candidates to announce their intentions to stand on the August 26 elections.
“I have a strong personal conviction: we can replicate our greatest achievements. On issues that are a priority for you, for me and for our country. By fighting, together, for the jobs that give meaning to life, to bring down the cost of living, to make everyday life easier for ourselves and our families”, promised Ali Bongo Ondimba.
The presidential ballot will coincide with elections for the National Assembly and regional and local councils.
Gabon is one of the richest countries in Africa in terms of per capita GDP due largely to its oil revenue and relatively small population of 2.3 million.
China Kindergarten Attack Kills 6, Sparks Safety Concerns
25-year-old man was suspected of attacking a kindergarten in China’s Guangdong province on Monday, killing six people and injuring one, triggering an outpouring of concern about violence against children at school.
Media reported the attack in Lianjiang county in the southern province was a stabbing. The suspect, with the surname Wu and from Lianjiang, had been detained, police said, adding they were investigating.
Some media reported that both adults and children were among the victims.
While violent crime is rare in China due to strict gun laws and tight security, incidents of stabbings at pre-schools over the past few years have raised concerns about school safety.
The latest news sparked emotive debate on the Weibo social media platform. By 1:50 p.m. it was the top-trending discussion, with 290 million views.
Some social media users called for the suspect to face the death penalty.
“It’s outrageous to do this to children who have no power at all. How many families will be destroyed by this … I support the death penalty,” one Weibo user said.
Another user questioned security at schools, especially after similar previous attacks.
“Why do such cases still continue to emerge?“
In August last year, three people were killed and six wounded in a stabbing at a kindergarten in the southern province of Jiangxi.
In 2021, a man killed two children and wounded 16 at a kindergarten in the southwestern region of Guangxi.
Attacks on children have also thrown a spotlight on mental health, which often goes under the radar due to cultural stigma attached to mental illnesses.
In 2017, a 22-year-old man set off an explosive device outside a kindergarten in Jiangsu province, killing himself and a few others while wounding dozens.
The man had a neurological disorder and had scrawled words for death on the walls of his home, according to state media.
Last month, a series of violent attacks in Hong Kong also raised the issue of mental health.
Mental health experts point to the COVID-19 pandemic as a major factor behind an increase in mental health problems.