GABON: PROBLEMS ARISING OVER PRESIDENTIAL RECOUNT

UNCLAS LIBREVILLE 000431

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C KORTE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM GB
SUBJECT: GABON: PROBLEMS ARISING OVER PRESIDENTIAL RECOUNT


1. (U) Summary: Gabon's Constitutional Court announced its plans to
review the government's vote tallies and other challenges to
President-elect Ali Bongo Ondimba's victory, but opposition concerns
with the court's methodology could delay the process. The
opposition wants the court to compare the government's verbal vote
tallies with those of opposition observers at the polling stations.
The opposition is refusing to participate in the recount until the
court changes the procedure and allows more opposition observers in
the process. Though frustrated, the ruling party insists that it
will not short-circuit the constitutional process. Bongo may hope
that this strategy will further enhance his legitimacy with Gabonese
and the international community. End Summary.

2. (U) On September 29, Gabon's Constitutional Court was supposed
to begin the process of reviewing the verbal statements of the vote
count issued at 3,000 polling stations to address opposition
allegations that the verbal vote tallies did not match the final
vote count. However, the opposition rejected the Court's September
25 announcement that only one representative from the opposition and
one from the ruling party would be allowed to witness the process
and that the recount was only of the verbal tallies presented to the
government. The opposition protested this process, demanding that
the court needed examine the opposition's records of the vote
tallies at the polling stations and compare them with the final
results. The opposition informed the court it would not participate
until it receives a formal reply. The court had expected to hear
presentations from the candidates' lawyers, including Ali Bongo's
legal team, on October 1 and 2, but the current impasse will likely
delay the hearing of the challenges.

3. (SBU) Faustin Boukoubi, the Secretary General of the ruling
Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG),stated publicly that "the election
took place openly. Whether you recount once or 100 times, it
doesn't change the results." Boukoubi told the Ambassador that the
ruling party would continue to respect the constitutional process
and take all necessary steps to satisfy the legal requirements.

4. (SBU) Comment: We expect this saga to play itself out in the
Constitutional Court over the next two to three weeks. The
opposition will continue to use all legal means to slow down what it
views as Ali Bongo's eventual installation as President. For its
part, Bongo, confident in the ultimate outcome, appears willing to
tolerate the legal delays in order to bolster his legitimacy
domestically and with the international community. The delays also
work to Bongo's advantage, giving him more time to negotiate with
disgruntled ruling party members as he makes preparations for his
new government.
REDDICK