GABON: GOVERNMENT DISMISSED, REAPPOINTED, AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIBREVILLE 000295

SIPDIS

PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREF GB
SUBJECT: GABON: GOVERNMENT DISMISSED, REAPPOINTED, AND
SHUFFLED

Classified By: PolOff Christopher Gunning for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

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Summary
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1. (C) On June 19 Interim President Rose Francine Rogombe
accepted the constitutionally-mandated resignation of Prime
Minister Jean Eyeghe Ndong and the demission of the Cabinet
of Ministers. Ndong was appointed hours later to head a
transitional government that looks much like its predecessor.
Most of the Ministers were reappointed to their former
positions. The only significant change shifted Andre Mba
Obame, a key supporter of current Minister for Defense Ali
Ben Bongo who is widely believed to be a presidential
candidate. Mba Obame moved from the Interior Ministry to the
Ministry of National Coordination and Monitoring of
Government Action, a position that will likely give him a key
role in the upcoming presidential election. End Summary.

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Constitutional Demands
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2. (C) Following several days of speculation regarding the
status of the Gabonese Government, Interim President Rose
Francine Rogombe publicly accepted the resignation of Prime
Minister Jean Eyeghe Ndong on June 19. Ndong submitted his
letter of resignation on June 15, however, due to President
Bongo Ondimba,s funeral, Rogombe postponed announcing the
acceptance of the letter and the governmental reshuffle.
From the taciturn tone of his funeral eulogy on June 16,
Ndong signaled his displeasure with his treatment by the
ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG in its French acronym)
and, according to Embassy contacts, was reluctant to submit
his resignation letter. Note: On June 15 the Gabonese
Constitutional Court formally announced that the position of
the Prime Minister must be selected by the sitting president,
whether the president attains the position through an
election or through an appointment.

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The New Government, Much Like the Old Government
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3. (U) Within hours of Rogombe formally accepting Ndong,s
resignation, he was reappointed as Prime Minister. Most key
positions in the Gabonese Government remained the same --
including Minister of Defense Ali Ben Bongo, Minister of
Foreign Affairs Paul Tongui, Vice Prime Minister for
Environment Georgette Koko, Vice Prime Minister for Culture
Paul Mba Abossole, and Vice Prime Minster for State Control
Honorine Naki.


4. (C) The one significant portfolio change concerned Andre
Mba Obame, former Minister of Interior. Mba Obame swapped
portfolios with Jean Francois Ndongou, former Minister for
National Coordination and Monitoring of Government Action.
Mba Obame is known as a close supporter of Defense Minister
Ali Ben Bongo. According to governmental media, Mba Obame,s
move demonstrated an effort to increase impartiality during
the election period, while also keeping him in an influential
position. According to Embassy contacts, however, Mba
Obame,s position as Minister for National Coordination and
Monitoring of Government Action will give him an important
role in organizing the upcoming presidential elections.

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Comment
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5. (C) The resignation of the Prime Minister and the
appointment of a new government were the expected next steps
in the election process. However, organizing elections
within the constitutionally-mandated 45 days will be a
significant challenge for this government. Due to the
lengthy funeral, multiple governmental holidays, and mourning
period, the transitional government is only now beginning to
face that challenge, nine days after the 45-day clock began
ticking. The main task of the Prime Minister and the
transitional government is to come up with a timetable for
the elections, and we expect the timetable to require an
extension of the 45-day period.
REDDICK