Gabon: Delay in Presidential Elections?

Government and opposition parties in Gabon are discussing delaying presidential elections to enable the updating of voters' rolls, according to the Kinshasa newspaper, Le Potentiel.

In other news from Gabon, a local news outlet reported that French President Nicolas Sarkozy was booed at the funeral of President Omar Bongo in Libreville on Tuesday.

Le Potentiel reports: Gabon's interim president, Rose Francine Rogombé, last Friday presided over a cabinet meeting and although the main agenda was to prepare for the funeral of President Omar Bongo, the meeting also touched on the organisation of a presidential election within the prescribed period of 45 days.

Although the constitution provides for a maximum of 45 days, it goes further to state that the period can be prolonged in the event of unforseen circumstances ("force majeur") recognised as such by the Constitutional Court.

According to many observers and members of government and opposition, it is imperative that the delay be extended in order to provide time to revise the electoral lists. According to sources close to both government and the opposition, talks to delay the elections have already begun.

Most people will want these elections free and transparent and in conformity with the constitution so as to be able to preserve the peace and stability not only of Gabon but the whole of central Arfica.

From Ouagadougou, L'Observateur Paalga reports: While Gabon is pre-occupied with the funeral, there is little doubt that after the burial on June 18, the battle for succession will become the country's main focus of attention.

Already in the Bongo family, the issue of the day is how power is going to be retained, with fierce rivalry between Pascaline Bongo, 52, and her younger brother, Ali Bongo, 50. Pascaline was the director of her father's cabinet while Ali is the minister of defence.

Though Ali Bongo is a minister and vice president of the ruling party (PDG), he lacks support from party barons. Most Gabonese believe he rose only thanks to his family connections and he is not popular among the people, among whom it is rumoured he is not the real son of Omar Bongo. Worst of all, many see him as a spoilt child, born in Congo-Brazzaville, brought up in France, hardly able to speak indigenous languages and with the appearance of a hip hop star.

Observers liken him to Karim Wade in Senegal, who though very popular in his own constituency and enjoying the backing of his father, President Abdulaye Wade, failed to win election in his own home town because of his inability to express himself in the local language.

Reporting on the booing of Sarkozy, Infos Plus Gabon writes from Libreville that although the French president was welcomed by part of the crowd, a number of voices shouted: "We no longer want you in our country, could you please leave?"

Hundreds of mourners joined the protest, calling out comments such as: "The French are ungrateful, we have given you our wood and oil and it's thanks to Gabon that France is what it is today. We can't take this anymore."

Security officials immediately threw a cordon around Sarkozy.

Reports adapted and translated by Michael Tantoh.