Gabon election timetable out
2009-07-10 14:55
Libreville - Gabonese civil servants are to begin preparing for a presidential election by September 6, in line with a ruling by the constitutional council, the interior ministry announced on Friday.
"The revision of the electoral rolls will begin tomorrow (Saturday)," under an order signed by Interior Minister Jean-Francois Ndongou, a member of his staff told AFP.
Gabon earlier this week came out of a month of mourning for president Omar Bongo Ondimba, who was Africa's longest-serving head of state when his death was announced, aged 73, on June 8 after 41 years in power.
The constitutional court has opened the way for the revision of the rolls between July 11 and 21, with time for claims to be put in during August.
Cabinet meeting
The court ruled on Wednesday that a case of "force majeure" existed and that it would be impossible to hold the election within 45 days of Bongo's death, in line with the constitution, which allows for a further delay.
To make time for rectifications, the new electoral lists will be published between August 1 and 5, and all amendments must be complete by August 14.
On August 15, the Autonomous and Permanent National Electoral Commission (Cenap) is due to receive definitive lists in the oil-rich equatorial country of some 1.5 million people, the interior ministry official said.
Under the electoral code, the Cenap is due to decide on the date for the election, which will finally be "confirmed by a decree issued after a cabinet meeting of the government," the source said.
Cost estimates
Gabon is currently being ruled by interim President Rose Francine Rogombe, the speaker of the Senate who was sworn in swiftly on July 10 to avoid a power vacuum. Her government asked for "force majeure" to be declared when it was evident that the voters' register could not be revised in time.
The court "notes a case of force majeure and decides that the election to choose a new president of the republic must take place by September 6 at the latest," chief justice Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo announced on Wednesday.
Mborantsuo added that the ruling had taken account of all factors, including the needs of the interior ministry and the Cenap, which will jointly stage the poll, and cost estimates from the finance ministry.
- SAPA