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The court dismissed Gabon's central argument - that a more recent treaty, the 1974 Bata convention, had switched the islands' sovereignty in its favour.

Ali Bongo, whose father Omar Bongo ruled Gabon for more than four decades, led the country for 14 years until the 2023 coup.

Gabon international Aaron Boupendza has died at the age of 28 after reportedly falling from a building in China.

His election victory consolidates his grip on power, nearly two years after he masterminded the demise of President Ali Bongo, whose family had been in power in Gabon since 1967.

People are heading to the polls to pick the next president of Gabon, where for the first time in decades a Bongo family member is not on the ballot.