GABON: OPPOSITION PARTIES UNITE TO FORM THE NATIONAL UNION

UNCLAS LIBREVILLE 000088

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM
SUBJECT: GABON: OPPOSITION PARTIES UNITE TO FORM THE NATIONAL UNION


1. (U) Summary: Defectors from Gabon's ruling Democratic Party
(PDG) and other opponents who challenged Ali Bongo Ondimba in the
August 2009 election joined forces on February 10 to create a new
political party, the National Union (UN). The UN brings together
three opposition parties, the Gabonese Union of Democracy and
Development (UGDD),the African Development Movement (MAD) and the
National Republican Party (RNR). Opposition unity was spearheaded
by former Ali Bongo ally and presidential runner-up Andre Mba Obame
who was named UN Executive Secretary. Historically, Gabonese
opposition parties have found it difficult to organize support and
develop political platforms. The new party hopes to overcome
individual personalities and ambitions in order to further erode
the ruling party's grip on power. End Summary.


2. (U) In December 2009, several opposition party leaders and
candidates formed a "coalition of political parties for an
alternating presidency and to represent the hopes of the Gabonese
people." Andre Mba Obame laid groundwork for the new party in a
country-wide post-election tour to thank opposition supporters. As
the UN's Executive Secretary, Mba Obame, will be working closely
with Zacharie Mboto, president of the UGDD and distant third
runner-up candidate, who was named UN president. A slew of
presidential also-rans helped create the UN, including PDG
stalwarts and former prime ministers Casmir Oye Mba and Eyeghe
Ndong, RNR president Gerard Ella Nguema, Paris-based Bruno Ben
Moubamba, and businessperson Ntoutoume Ngoua. Days before the
announcement of the UN's creation, each of the former PDG
heavyweights announced their adherence to one of the already
established opposition parties, the UGDD, RNR or MAD, to establish
that the new unified party was made of parties, not individuals.


3. (SBU) The creation of the UN has answered the question on the
minds of many Gabonese about the future of the candidates who ran
and lost in the 2009 election to succeed the late Omar Bongo
Ondimba. Former PDG heavyweight Andre Mba Obame was the most
visible of the losing candidates in late 2009, criss-crossing Gabon
for private consultations and public meetings to test the waters
for a united opposition. The first test of the UN will come in
their preparation for legislative elections in 2011. With Mba
Obame and Zacharie Mboto among the leadership of the UN, the Fang
ethnic group and Haut Ogoue (Bongo's home area) appears to be
heavily favored in the new party. However, the former PDGists in
the new party represent political and financial strongholds
throughout Gabon.


4. (U) Not all of Gabon's opposition has thrown its support behind
the UN. Pierre Mamboundou, longstanding opponent of former
President Omar Bongo, and his Union of the Gabonese People
Party
(UPG) is notably absent from the new party. Mamboundou ran third
in the 2009 presidential election with 25% percent of the vote.
The UPG has been the strongest of the opposition parties, with
membership heavily concentrated in Port Gentil, Gabon's commercial
center and scene of the only protracted violence after the
presidential election results were announced. The UPG is the
largest opposition party of the Alliance for Reform and Change
(ACR) which has not announced an association with the UN. Other
ACR leaders include former presidential candidates Louis Gaston
Mayila (UPNR president) and Pierre Andre Kombila (RNB president).


5. (SBU) Comment: Opposition parties have failed to develop
platforms and organize nationwide to win in national elections
since the opening of Gabon's political system to multi-partyism in

1990. However, Mba Obame and Mamboundou together received 51% of
the vote in the 2009 presidential election, outstripping winner Ali
Bongo Ondimba's 42%. As for the ruling party, the PDG appears to
be at a crossroads with the death of Omar Bongo and the defections
that resulted from Ali Bongo's selection as its candidate to
succeed his father as president. Ali Bongo's apparent overstepping
of the party baron system to tap loyal aides for key positions in
the Presidency and government in order to overhaul the old
political patronage system has further undermined PDG unity. It
remains to be seen whether Gabon's opposition parties and
personalities can work together to build support based on issues
and organize to erode PDG power, particularly in the 2011
legislative elections. End Comment.
REDDICK