Elections in Gabon is scheduled to be taking place this month, but lately it is reported to be delayed for up to seven months citing a fund problem.
The electoral commission told Prime Minister Emmanuel Ngondet the election is not possible to conduct in December and thereafter the decision of delay is taken by the country’s constitutional court.
Gabon’s Interior Minister Lambert Matha said shortage of funds is making impossible to organize the ballot in time and the court took to account the unforseen costs that resulted from clashes in the August presidential race that was won by incumbent Ali Bongo by just 6,000 votes.
Rioting and violence were seen thereafter in the oil-rich central African nation for about two days after the election result that led three people dead and arrest of some 800 people.
Gabon’s top court confirmed re-election on September 23 and Bongo proposed to be sitting for a discussion with the opposition to which the rival Jean Ping has rejected repeatedly.
Gabonese Communications Minister Alain-Claude Bille Ny Nze said, “It seems to make good sense to first begin by ensuring the necessary conditions for dialogue to have a peaceful legislative election.”
The court has lately ordered the election must be held by July 29, 2017.
Gabon gained independence in 1960 from France and since then has had three presidents. Under the 1961 constitution (revised twice in 1975 and 2003, rewritten once in 1991) it is a republic with a presidential form of government. It has a bicameral legislature with a National Assembly and Senate.
