Bongo seeks to prolong 50-year family rule in Gabon vote

A woman votes during the presidential election in Libreville, Gabon, August 27, 2016. REUTERS/Erauds Wilfried Obangome

LIBREVILLE (Reuters) - Gabon voted on Saturday amid growing discontent over the failure to raise living standards despite its oil wealth, posing the potentially biggest challenge yet to President Ali Bongo, whose family has dominated the nation for half a century.

But with state machinery and entrenched patronage networks behind him, Bongo, 57, was likely to be returned to power seven years after winning his first election following the death of his father Omar, who ruled for 42 years.