Gabon delays parliamentary poll citing lack of funds

Libreville/ AFP

Gabon’s parliamentary elections, which had been due to take place this month, have been postponed for up to seven months, the interior ministry said, citing a lack of funds.
The decision to delay the vote, which must now take place no later than July 29, 2017, was taken by Gabon’s constitutional court after the electoral commission told Prime Minister Emmanuel Ngondet it would be impossible to organise such an election this month.
In his statement, Interior Minister Lambert Matha referred to a “shortage of funds” to organise the ballot in time, with the court taking into account the “unforseen costs” resulting from clashes which erupted following Gabon’s divisive August presidential race.
The vote was won by incumbent Ali Bongo by a razor-thin margin of some 6,000 votes, sparking two days of rioting and protests that left three dead and saw more than 800 people arrested in this oil-rich central African nation. Bongo’s reelection, which was roundly rejected by his rival Jean Ping, was confirmed by the country’s top court on
September 23.
After his re-election, Bongo proposed talks with the opposition, which Ping has consistently rejected.
“It seems to make good sense to first begin by ensuring the necessary conditions for dialogue to have a peaceful legislative election,” said Gabonese Communications Minister Alain-Claude Bilie Ny Nze.