GABON: ELECTION MISCELLANY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LIBREVILLE 000368

SIPDIS

AF/C FOR LISA KORTE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2019
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL GB
SUBJECT: GABON: ELECTION MISCELLANY

Classified By: Ambassador Eunice Reddick for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) As Gabon enters into an unprecedented period in its
history, Gabonese politics also struggles to define the norms
for the first truly unpredictable political landscape in 41
years. New election tactics like the use of short messaging
services (SMS) and billboards are prompting local debate.
The Gabonese Government, once known for its stability, is on
its third round of major governmental shakeups since the
death of Omar Bongo ) with at least one more on the way
after the August 30 election. Even the presidency, normally
the first and last word on all things politic in Gabon, is
showing weakness as Interim President Rogombe has futilely
tried to prevent the campaigns of the presidential hopefuls
from starting while allowing Ali Bongo to hijack official
functions for his own campaign. END SUMMARY.

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INTERIM PRESIDENT PUBLICALLY NOTES THAT THE CAMPAIGN HAS NOT
YET BEGUN ) NO ONE LISTENS
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2. (C) On July 31 Interim President Rose Francine Rogombe
publicly reminded the 23 presidential candidates that "The
campaign for the presidency has not yet started." The
"official" campaign cycle begins August 16 and lasts until
the day before the election. Rogombe's announcement was made
against the backdrop of all 23 candidates making very public
appeals to their voters, including Minister of Defense and
PDG nominee Ali Bongo Ondimba. Already, candidates and their
supporters are reported to be handing out bags of rice,
bottles of beer, and shirts with the pictures of the
candidates to the population of villages in the interior of
the country as well as some of the outlaying areas of
Libreville.

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THE CAMPAIGN HAS NOT YET OFFICALLY STARTED ) UNLESS YOU ARE
ALI BONGO
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3. (C) Chinese Ambassador Li Fushun told the Ambassador she
was surprised that a road groundbreaking ceremony she
participated in turned into a campaign rally, with Interim
President Rose Rogombe officiating no less. The Ngounie
province road project is being funded by an African
Development Bank loan and will be carried out by China
Communications Construction Company. The Chinese Ambassador
knew that the Interim President would be participating in the
groundbreaking, however, the Vice President, Prime Minister
and many other ministers also attended, including Minister of
Defense and ruling PDG presidential candidate Ali Bongo. The
audience was replete with chanting women in outfits
emblazoned with Omar Bongo's photo. The Interim President
was warmly welcomed by the audience but the dignitary who
received the loudest and longest cheer was candidate Ali
Bongo. The Chinese Ambassador said she did not expect to be
part of a PDG rally, but took it all in stride. She noted
that Minister of Territorial Management and independent
candidate Pierre Claver Maganga Moussavou was visibly
chagrined by the reception for Ali Bongo.

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CAMPAIGN ADVERTISEMENTS NOW DIGITAL
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4. (C) Mobile phone customers in Gabon are receiving
electronic short messaging service (SMS) campaign statements.
The use of SMS and mobile phones is a new development in
Gabon, and is coming under heavy scrutiny by the public.
Many Gabonese are unhappy with the use of SMS for
campaigning. They are raising questions about how their
phone numbers were acquired by the candidates, and how the
SMS campaign advertisements are being paid. Users of Zain
mobile phones received an SMS from Ali Bongo Ondimba's
campaign. There have also been unconfirmed reports of
pro-Fang ethnic group SMS solicitations (there are four
prominent Fang candidates ) former PM Eyeghe-Ndong, former
Interior Minister Mba Obame, former Vice Prime Minister Mba
Abessole, and former Mining Minister Oye Mba).

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YET ANOTHER LIST OF MINISTERS
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5. (U) Gabon, once known for its governmental stability under

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the leadership of Omar Bongo Ondimba, has announced three
significant changes to the government in less than two
months. On June 11 a new set of Ministers were selected and
shuffled after the ascension of Interim President Rose
Francine Rogombe. On July 23 a new list was published after
former Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe Ndong stepped down and new
Prime Minister Paul Biyoghe Mba installed his government.
The most recent reshuffle occurred on July 31, and involved a
number of provincial representatives being replaced and
individuals from the Lambarene region (the home of the
Interim President) being added to the governmental rosters.
With the election of a new president on August 30, another
round of reshuffles will occur within a few weeks marking at
least the fourth significant shift in governmental personnel
since Omar Bongo's death.

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BILLBOARDS FORBIDDEN, TORN DOWN
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6. (C) The Libreville Mayor's office has recently decided not
to allow the use of billboards for campaigning. Embassy
contacts say that the ruling comes down as a result of plans
by independent candidate Andre Mba Obame to use his extensive
media holdings to promote his run for the presidency. Mba
Obame's companies own a number of billboards in Libreville
and there were plans for his advertisements to go up, but the
mayor's office has decided that billboards cannot be used to
promote candidates. Besides forbidding the use of billboards
in the campaign, the City of Libreville identified a series
of "illegal" billboards that it is now removing. Not
coincidentally, embassy contacts tell us, these "illegal"
billboards are owned by Mba Obame. Local broadcast media has
reported that contrary to the statements by the Mayor's
office, the billboards were legally licensed and their
removal is entirely politically motivated.

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Secret Voter Registration?
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7. (C) Presidential candidate Pierre Mamboundou has
repeatedly and openly said that that the Gabonese Government
is sponsoring "secret" voter registrations. Mamboundou
claims that because the lines were long during the public
voter registration period, the government is now allowing PDG
sympathizers who did not register to do so secretly and well
after the close of the registration period. Mamboundou has
also raised concerns that non-Gabonese with PDG sympathies
are being allowed to register.

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COMMENT
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8. (C) There is no doubt that the contest for the presidency
is in full-swing. Gabon is experiencing a period of anomie,
where the normal rules of the political game no longer apply.
Without the leadership and oversight of Ali Bongo tactics
and methods that would have been considered "off-limits" are
now being explored by the PDG and opposition alike as they
jockey for advantage. Mamboundou,s complaints of
malfeasance on the part of the PDG are nothing new and will
be a reoccurring theme to his campaign. END COMMENT.

REDDICK