Gabon to hold 'political dialogue' after AFCON competition - Govt

Gabon has said it will hold talks to resolve a political crisis caused by last year’s election fall out after the on going African Cup of Nations tournament.

“I confirm that of the 54 political parties recognized in our country, 52 have already confirmed their participation,” Gabon’s government spokesman and communications minister Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nzé, said at a press conference on Friday.

However, Bongo’s main political rival Jean Ping has ruled himself from the talks.

“They are organizing a dialogue, but the problem is Ali Bongo,” Ping said on Friday.

The former head of the African Union Commission still proclaims himself the “elected president” and has refused to recognize the re-election of Bongo that was validated by the constitutional court in September.

Ping has received backing from Gabon’s former Prime Minister Casimir Oye Mba and the President of the National Union (UN), Zacharie Myboto. He also has the support of Guy Nzouba Ndama who is a former head of the National Assembly.

Gabon’s government spokesman pointed out that the country’s Prime Minister had furnished the President with an “activity report of the priority measures undertaken during the first hundred days of Bongo’s government”.

“Today, the overall rate of implementation of projects within 100 days is 66%. 36 of these projects have been fully implemented, 120 are in progress and 16 have not yet been implemented due to administrative issues or unavailability of budgetary resources,” Bilie-By-Nzé said.

A tiny country of 1.8 million people, Gabon experienced an unprecedented post-election violence after the announcement of Bongo’s re-election following the August 27 election.