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jambo
3300 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Jun 2009 : 18:48:40
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/default.stm
Gabon's interim leader sworn in
Rose Francine Rogombe fills a power vacuum left by Omar Bongo's death
The speaker of the senate in Gabon has been sworn in as the country's interim head of state, following the recent death of President Omar Bongo.
Under the constitution, Rose Francine Rogombe, an ally of Mr Bongo, must organise elections within 45 days.
On Thursday, Mr Bongo's body will be repatriated from Spain where he had been undergoing medical treatment. Access to the internet in the oil-rich nation remains cut off, but the state's borders have been reopened.
Minute's silence Ms Rogombe was sworn in at the International Conference Centre in the capital, Libreville, on Wednesday morning, a day after her appointment was confirmed by the constitutional court.
I swear to devote all my strength to the good of the Gabonese people, with the aim of promoting its well-being and protecting it from all harm, to respect and defend the constitution and a state of law, and conscientiously to carry out my duties and to be fair to all," Ms Rogombe said.
Before she took the oath, a minute's silence was held in the memory of Mr Bongo, AFP news agency reports.
The death of the 73-year-old president, who was Africa's longest-serving leader, was announced on Monday. The government said Mr Bongo, who had led Gabon since 1967, had died of a heart attack, hours after saying he was alive and well. It emerged in May the president was being treated in a Barcelona clinic, amid unconfirmed reports he had cancer.
On Thursday the late president's body will arrive back in the country where it will lie in state at the presidential palace in the capital.
He will be buried at Franceville in the Bateke region of his birth in south-east Gabon on Thursday of next week.
On Tuesday, Mr Bongo's son - Defence Minister Ali-Ben Bongo - appealed for calm following his father's death. Observers say the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) has been deciding who should succeed him, with his 50-year-old son a leading contender.
The BBC's Linel Kwatsi, in Libreville, says the security forces are keeping a low profile on the capital's streets, which are quieter than usual. Gabon Telecom says the internet, cut since Sunday, has been hit by an optical fibre technical fault.
But many believe the government has ordered the company to take Gabon off-line so as to control access to information in the aftermath of the president's death.
The city's mayor has banned large gatherings and ordered nightclubs and bars to close, while security forces are on patrol.
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2009 : 10:45:28
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Gabon is now at a very big risk of falling into instability. The aftermath of Omar Bongo's hegemony is not likely to consolidate solidarity and consensus in Gabon. Every time a long serving president like this suddenly pass away, the political and security vacuum that ensures is not likely to be filled quietly. Power struggle is likely to occur. Omar Bongo has ruled Gabon single-handedly for nearly 42 years without an effective opposition. There is no real mechanism either in the opposition or within the ruling party for a smooth transition.
What happened in the Ivory Coast after H. Boigney's long years of one-party rule, and Gen. L. Conteh's and to some extent Jawara's long years at Guinea's and Gambia's presidency respectively under very little or weak opposition is likely to be repeated in Gabon unless serious steps are taken immediately to prevent internal power struggle. I am very pessimistic this is possible though. |
Edited by - kayjatta on 11 Jun 2009 10:47:11 |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2009 : 17:22:21
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KAY
I hope that your assesment of the situation is incorrect,personally I feel that is probably very accurate,watch this space is the phrase to use.
G.Bissau and Gabon appear to be in the same boat,lets watch and see what happens.
JAMBO maybe will keep us up to date |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
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lurker
509 Posts |
Posted - 04 Sep 2009 : 12:36:55
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bongo junior is a shoo-in for the presidency.
does yayha have a son in waiting?
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 04 Sep 2009 : 12:48:08
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Muhammed is coming up. They already have a Foundation and a Fans Club in his name...
I am sure the presidency would not be too far down the line... |
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lurker
509 Posts |
Posted - 04 Sep 2009 : 13:02:52
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and so it goes on......
ho hum africa
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 04 Sep 2009 : 13:34:46
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| I think Kareem Wade, the son of President Abdoulaye wade is still the heir to the throne in Senegal... |
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