- The Gabonese ruling party has elected the late President Omar Bongo’s son, Ali Bongo Ondimba, as the presidential candidate for elections slated for late August this year, the Gabonese Democratic Party announced today.
Mr Bongo, 50, who is currently Gabon’s defence minister, is expected to run against tight opposition in the West African state. He is expected to succeed his father, who died on 8 June at the age of 73, after ruling the country for 40 years.
However, rights groups had argued that no member of the former government should contest the elections, saying election of Mr Bongo was a clear nepotism, saying it also compromises democracy.
They also accused the ruling party of funding election campaigns with state money which is in favour of Mr Bongo.
Meanwhile, the National Electoral Commission has proposed presidential elections be held on 30 August, which has already been communicated with the government. “The government will then formally announce the date,” reports said.
The Commission has recommended that candidates should file their nominations between 17 and 22 July, a month prior to elections.
Following the death of President Bongo, the Gabonese Senate speaker, Rose Francine Rogombe was sworn in as acting head of state in the capital Libreville, and also commissioned to prepare for presidential elections.
Africa’s longest serving President Bongo died of cardiac arrest at a Spanish hospital where he had been treated for weeks.
Gabon is sub-Saharan Africa’s sixth-biggest oil exporter and produces manganese, but it still remains one of the world’s poorest countries.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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