Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LIBREVILLE302
2009-06-25 16:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Libreville
Cable title:  

GABON: INTERIM PRESIDENT OPENS DISCUSSIONS ON

Tags:  PGOV PINR PREL GB 
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PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHLC #0302/01 1761630
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 251630Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1252
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LIBREVILLE 000302 

SIPDIS

AF/C FOR LISA KORTE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL GB
SUBJECT: GABON: INTERIM PRESIDENT OPENS DISCUSSIONS ON
ELECTION PROCESS

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

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Summary
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LIBREVILLE 000302

SIPDIS

AF/C FOR LISA KORTE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL GB
SUBJECT: GABON: INTERIM PRESIDENT OPENS DISCUSSIONS ON
ELECTION PROCESS

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

--------------
Summary
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1. (U) Interim President Rose Rogombe announced June 20 that
she would launch a dialogue and consultations with Gabon,s
political and civic actors to reach consensus concerning the
election of Gabon,s next President. Her consultations began
three days later with the leadership of the ruling Democratic
Party of Gabon (PDG),followed by a meeting on June 24 with
the leaders of the opposition parties. She will meet with
representatives of civil society ) religious leaders, unions
and NGOs ) on June 26. While both ruling and opposition
camps agree that it will be difficult to organize a
transparent and credible election within the
constitutionally-mandated 45 days since President Bongo,s
death, differences are emerging on the length of time
required to organize the election. End Summary.

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Consultations, Dialogue and Consensus
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2. (U) To carry out her pledge to build consensus among
Gabonese regarding the election of the next president,
Interim President Rose Rogombe launched a dialogue this week
with political and civil society leaders. At the meeting of
the ruling PDG on June 23, PM Jean Eyeghe Ndong and new
Interior Minister Jean Francis Ndongou joined Rogombe on the
dais. The participants included former opponents of
President Bongo and leaders of the PDG coalition partners )
Paul Mba Abessole (Gabon Vice Premier and RPG leader),Didjob
Divungi Di Ndinge (Gabon Vice President and ADERE leader),
Jean-Boniface Assele (CLR),Perre Claver Zeng Ebome (MAD),
and Louis-Gaston Mayila (UPNR). On June 24 Rogombe met with
leaders of the opposition, including UGDD president Zachaie
Myboto and UPG President Pierre Mamboundou.


3. (U) Following the meetings, the participants spoke to the
media. Their statements and the commentary in the government
and non-government press are pointing to positions that are
likely to define the process ahead. Party leaders from both
sides of the aisle acknowledged that it would be difficult to
organize a credible election within the
constitutionally-mandated 45 day period following the death
of President Bongo. The leaders noted that the Constitution
stipulates several actions must be completed 45 days in
advance of the election, including the final voters list, the
list of candidates, and the selection of local election
commissions. Funding concerns were mentioned; a presidential
election will be expensive and has not been budgeted. There
was agreement that the Constitutional Court must determine
that a case of &force majeur8 requires an extension of the
45 day period before a decision can be made on the length of
the extension.

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How Long of an Extension to Prepare for the Election?
-------------- --------------


4. (U) Different positions emerged, however, on the time
required to organize an election. PDG leaders expressed a
preference for a shorter extension, as close as possible to
the time frame envisioned in the Constitution. Some
opposition party leaders suggested a five to six month period
to prepare for the election. The issue of developing
biometrics prior to the election has become one of the key
concerns of some politicos.


5. (U) Rogombe will meet June 26 with representatives of the
Catholic, Evangelic, and Pentecostal Churches, the Muslim
community, unions and civil society. Interestingly,
well-known environmental and social activist Marc Ona and
several of his colleagues have been invited to the meeting.
At a June 25 press conference, Ona demanded that the interim
president ensure free, fair, and transparent elections.

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Comment
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6. (C) President Rogombe, who appeared reticent in her
initial appearances as president, has gained approval for her
deliberate approach to the transition. Her insistence on a
constitutional process based on consultations and consensus
has laid the foundation for discussion ) both public and
behind the scenes. It has not been lost on observers that
among the ruling and opposition party leaders that

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participated in the consultations are possible candidates for
the presidency. Opposition candidates will need time to
build up the financial resources and campaign networks.
There are speculations that the PDG leaders believe they will
be in a stronger position to run an effective campaign based
on party funds and manpower on a shorter time frame. A key
complicating factor will be who is in contention from the PDG
and how the ruling party sorts out the contenders. End
Comment.
REDDICK