Situation in Gabon

'National Dialogue' on Gabon's Constitution to Begin Next Year, Interim Prime Minister Says

© AFP 2024 -Gabon's interim Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima
Gabon's interim Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 28.09.2023
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On August 30, the military conducted a coup in Gabon, denying the newly elected president Ondimba a third term in office. In early September, the newly appointed Gabon's Prime Minister Ndong Sima told media that a two-year transition before the free elections promised by the state's new military rulers is a "reasonable objective."
Rebels-appointed Gabon's Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima said that a "national dialogue" about a new constitution would be arranged next year, he stated during a press conference.
In addition, the prime minister stressed that a call to contribute to the dialogue would go out next week.
"Everyone has something to say. Men, women, old people, young people, people in housing estates, people in towns, in villages, everyone has an opinion and that's normal," he noted.
According to the prime minister, the written contributions should consist of two parts: firstly, comments on the current situation in internal politics, outlining what is acceptable and what is not, secondly, possible solutions.
Residents gesture and hold a Gabon national flag in Libreville on August 30, 2023 - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 14.09.2023
Situation in Gabon
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By the end of January, Ndong Sima plans to present a summary of these contributions, which will serve as a basis for the national dialogue to take place between April and June.
"Why do we have a limited time to do this? Because we can't go on forever in a transition situation with a military command," he said, adding: "We are a civil society. We belong to institutional bodies, and we must respect the clauses of these bodies."
On August 30, Gabon witnessed the military invalidate the outcome of the presidential election held on August 26, thereby denying Ali Bongo Ondimba a third term in office. The rebel-appointed leader and transitional president, Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema said the change of the government in the country was a liberation and not a coup and proposed to adopt a new constitution for the country at a referendum without specifying the timeframe.
Following the coup, on September 7, the new military leaders appointed Raymond Ndong Sima, an opponent of ousted President Ondimba, as an interim prime minister. Two days later, a new cabinet was announced by the country's transitional government.
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