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New Gabonese president names new government

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:01:48 GMT

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Gabon

Other stories from Gabon

20 October 2009: New Gabonese president names new government
18 October 2009: Ali Bongo sworn in as president of Gabon
13 October 2009: Gabon court upholds presidential candidate Bongo's win after protest
8 June 2009: Gabonese president Omar Bongo dies at age 73
19 January 2009: Seven dead, one missing, two survive French helicopter crash off Gabon coast

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Location of Gabon

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Gabon, see the Gabon Portal

Gabon's new president Ali Ben Bongo has named his first government, after winning the country's recent presidential elections.

Bongo has kept interim Prime Minister Paul Mba, who has served in the post since July when his predecessor stepped down to run against Bongo.

Paul Tongui remained the foreign minister. Jean Francois Ndoungou kept his job as interior minister. Angelique Ngoma was moved from her position as minister of families to the defense minister — the first time that a woman has held that post in Gabon.

President Bongo was defense minister in the previous government of his father, Omar Bongo, who died in June after ruling for forty years.

In all, a dozen members of the new government are veterans of the previous administration. However, Bongo has trimmed its size. Including himself and the prime minister, there are just 30 members of the new government. The previous administration had 44. Prime Minister Mba said the move "is aimed primarily at efficiency".

Francois Engongah Owono is the secretary general of the presidency. Owono said that the new, smaller government will be more efficient and includes people determined to get everyone in Gabon working together for a better country.

Bongo was sworn in Saturday after a lengthy review of the August election that brought him to power. Opposition candidates filed suit to overturn the results, accusing electoral officials of vote fraud to benefit the ruling party. Gabon's constitutional court recounted returns from more than 2,800 polling stations and confirmed Bongo's win.

Most election observers believe the vote was fair, despite irregularities that included security forces at polling stations, some ballot boxes not being properly sealed, and the absence of opposition representatives during some vote counting.

Bongo has promised to improve health, education, and housing in Gabon and more equitably distribute oil revenue. Under his father, Gabon became the world's sixth-largest oil exporter, but 70% of the population still live in poverty.

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Sources [edit]

This article includes material from Bongo Names Gabon Government by VOA News, which is in the public domain.

Scott Stearns. "Bongo Names Gabon Government" — VOA News, October 18, 2009
"Women in two important posts in slimline Gabon cabinet" — Radio France Internationale, October 18, 2009

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Ali Bongo sworn in as president of Gabon

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:14:11 GMT

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Gabon

Other stories from Gabon

20 October 2009: New Gabonese president names new government
18 October 2009: Ali Bongo sworn in as president of Gabon
13 October 2009: Gabon court upholds presidential candidate Bongo's win after protest
8 June 2009: Gabonese president Omar Bongo dies at age 73
19 January 2009: Seven dead, one missing, two survive French helicopter crash off Gabon coast

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Location of Gabon

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Ali Bongo Ondimba was sworn in as the president of the African country of Gabon on Friday, after winning the August 30 presidential elections. He took the oath of office in the capital Libreville, at the Presidential Palace.

"I swear to use all my efforts for the good of the people of Gabon, to ensure their well-being and protect them, to respect and defend the Constitution and guarantee freedom, to consciously carry out my duties and ensure justice for all," he said at the inauguration, raising his right hand.

In a speech, Bongo said that he wanted to put an end to injustice and corruption. "I wish for a Gabon free from corruption and injustice, I wish for a Gabon where the elites move freely and more of them come up, I wish for a Gabon where merit is appreciated, and where the right punishment is given to those who break the law," he said in front of a crowd of invited guests.

Bongo was sworn in four days after the country's constitutional court confirmed his victory in the presidential elections, which had been challenged by nine of the opposition candidates, alleging fraud.

Bongo had won 42% of the vote, official results said. Most independent electoral observers said they thought that the elections were fair.

Bongo, aged 50, is the son of Omar Bongo, who was the leader of Gabon for four decades before he died this June.

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Sources [edit]

"Ali Bongo takes oath of office to succeeds his father" — Xinhua, October 17, 2009
"Bongo Sworn In As Gabon President" — VOA News, October 17, 2009

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Gabon court upholds presidential candidate Bongo's win after protest

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:21:56 GMT

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Gabon

Other stories from Gabon

20 October 2009: New Gabonese president names new government
18 October 2009: Ali Bongo sworn in as president of Gabon
13 October 2009: Gabon court upholds presidential candidate Bongo's win after protest
8 June 2009: Gabonese president Omar Bongo dies at age 73
19 January 2009: Seven dead, one missing, two survive French helicopter crash off Gabon coast

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Location of Gabon

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Gabon, see the Gabon Portal

Gabon's constitutional court has upheld Ali Ben Bongo's win in the August presidential election. Nine opposition candidates had challenged those results, alleging vote fraud.

After recounting results from more than 2,800 polling stations, Gabon's constitutional court confirmed the election of the son of the country's long-time leader Omar Bongo. Announcing the results on state television, constitutional court president Marie Madeleine Mborantsuo reaffirmed Ali Ben Bongo's win with nearly 42 percent of the vote.

Former interior minister Andre Mba Obame and opposition leader Pierre Mamboundou each finished with about 25% of the vote. But the recount changed their order, with Mamboundou now finishing slightly ahead of Obame.

Mborantsou said that the court annulled results from one polling station. With Bongo winning more votes than any of his opponents, she said his election as the president of the Republic of Gabon is confirmed.

The court's decision was final, and cleared the way for the president-elect's inauguration. The ruling rejects an electoral challenge by Obame, Mamboundou and other opposition candidates who accused electoral officials of massive vote fraud to benefit Bongo.

Obame has gone on a hunger strike to deplore what he called "the installation of an era of dictatorship" in Gabon. He says fraudulent results are a humiliation for the massive numbers of people who voted for change.

Bongo was considered the front-runner in the election since his father's death in June, after 42 years in power.

Former colonial power France welcomed his election, saying the vote took place under "acceptable conditions." Most electoral observers agree the vote was generally fair despite irregularities that included security forces at polling stations, some ballot boxes not being properly sealed, and the absence of opposition representatives during some vote counting.

When Bongo was first announced the winner following August's vote, police disbursed opposition demonstrators in the capital with tear gas. Protesters in the city of Port Gentil burned the French Consulate and attacked offices of French and U.S. oil firms.

Police said three people were killed in that violence. Human-rights groups say at least 15 people were killed by security forces. Interim President Rose Francine Rogombe says an investigation is under way to determine who is responsible for that violence.

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Sources [edit]

This article includes material from Court Upholds Bongo Win in Gabon by VOA News, which is in the public domain.

Scott Stearns. "Court Upholds Bongo Win in Gabon" — VOA News, October 13, 2009
"Gabon court upholds Bongo's victory after protest" — Associated Press, October 13, 2009
"Gabon: Court confirms Ali Bongo as late President Omar Bongo’s successor" — Afrik.com, October 13, 2009

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Gabonese president Omar Bongo dies at age 73

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:14:51 GMT

Monday, June 8, 2009

Gabon

Other stories from Gabon

20 October 2009: New Gabonese president names new government
18 October 2009: Ali Bongo sworn in as president of Gabon
13 October 2009: Gabon court upholds presidential candidate Bongo's win after protest
8 June 2009: Gabonese president Omar Bongo dies at age 73
19 January 2009: Seven dead, one missing, two survive French helicopter crash off Gabon coast

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Location of Gabon

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Gabon, see the Gabon Portal

Omar Bongo in 2004

Omar Bongo, the president of the western African country of Gabon, has died at a clinic in Barcelona, Spain, according to the Gabonese prime minister.

Jean Eyeghe Ndong said that Bongo, the longest-serving leader of an African country, had died at the Quiron clinic on Monday, at the age of 73.

"At 2:30 pm, the medical team informed me, as well as the officials and members of the family present, that the president of the republic, head of state Omar Bongo Ondimba had just passed away following a heart attack," Ndong said, adding that the president had been admitted to the clinic early in May.

"I noted at that time that the head of state whom I visited in the intensive care unit was alive and well.But we knew that the health of the president had become a source of concern in recent days," he said.

According to Gabon's constitution, the president of the senate is to become the interim ruler should the president die while in office. The senate's president is Rose Francine Rogombe from the Gabonese Democratic Party. The constitution says new elections should take place within 45 days.

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Sources [edit]

Wikipedia has more about this subject:

Gabon

"Gabon's leader is confirmed dead" — BBC News Online, June 8, 2009
"Gabon's president Bongo dies" — Al Jazeera, June 8, 2009

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Seven dead, one missing, two survive French helicopter crash off Gabon coast

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:47:52 GMT

Gabon

Other stories from Gabon

20 October 2009: New Gabonese president names new government
18 October 2009: Ali Bongo sworn in as president of Gabon
13 October 2009: Gabon court upholds presidential candidate Bongo's win after protest
8 June 2009: Gabonese president Omar Bongo dies at age 73
19 January 2009: Seven dead, one missing, two survive French helicopter crash off Gabon coast

...More articles here

Location of Gabon

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Gabon, see the Gabon Portal

Monday, January 19, 2009

The Foudre - Le TCD Foudre à quai à l'arsenal de Toulon (avril 2002).

Officials say that a French military helicopter with 10 French soldiers, including four crew members and six Special Forces paratroopers, has crashed off the coast of Gabon in west central Africa.

The Eurocopter AS 532 Cougar ditched shortly into the Atlantic Ocean after leaving a French naval ship, about 50 kilometres off the coast. Seven French soldiers were killed, two were rescued, and one is still missing, according to a statement issued by President Nicolas Sarkozy's office.

"Today, the wreckage of the helicopter was located at a depth of 35 metres and searched. Unfortunately, we must report the deaths of five other soldiers. A final soldier remains missing. Searches are continuing," the statement explained.

According to Libreville Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Carpentier, the ill-fated helicopter crashed Saturday night at 8:08 p.m. (1908 GMT) into Atlantic waters off Nyonie, a small town located between Gabon's capital Libreville and the town of Port-Gentil. It was taking off from the amphibious assault ship La Foudre's naval landing craft transporter cruising 50 kilometers (30 miles) off the Gabonese coast, during a joint training exercise, said Lieutenant Colonel Francois-Marie Gougeon, spokesman for the general staff.

A French army Eurocopter AS 532 Cougar helicopter from the landing zone at the Kabul Military Training Center in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 15, 2007.

The ship "set off the alert and arrived at the crash site with rescuers who picked up the injured crew within half an hour. The sea was calm and the wind low at the time of the crash but the night was very dark," Lieutenant Gougeon explained, adding that "search operations will naturally continue all night." La Foudre, two helicopters and oil giant Total S.A.'s three vessels, including its sonar and underwater robot joined the rescue effort of the salvage team.

"Divers were deployed to locate the wreckage," said Captain Christophe Prazuck, spokesman for the army general staff. "At daybreak we will deploy all our means, planes, helicopters, boats... to take part in the search," said Gabon's Interior Minister André Mba Obame.

Meanwhile French President Nicolas Sarkozy directed Defence Minister Hervé Morin to travel to the crash site. Sarkozy had "asked that all available means in the area be immediately deployed to find the soldiers who were aboard." Morin later announced there would be two probes, a judicial one and another by the French defence ministry, with the assistance of French gendarmes and an air accident expert.

Satellite image of Gabon, generated from raster graphics data supplied by The Map Library.

Minister Morin arrived in Libreville on Sunday and met with President Omar Bongo to discuss rescue efforts for the missing body of one of the seven soldiers. "The cause of this tragedy remains unknown. It may be natural or human, or a combination of both." Morin said. "Divers were inspecting the Cougar, which was in water 35 meters (about 115 feet) deep. We will do everything we can to find the last person missing," he added.

Morin viewed rescue efforts on La Foudre, and visited friends and relatives of the missing at Camp DeGaulle. The French soldiers were "permanent personnel in Gabon who knew the region well," said General Claude Reglat, Gabon commander of French forces. "The six others were commandos who had arrived from the French army's elite 13th Regiment of Dragon Paratroopers. We have expressed our compassion and solidarity to the families," he added. “This type of helicopter does not have a black box. So the flight was not recorded, nor were the voices in the cockpit. So some elements will remain unknown,” Claude Reglat also noted.

The January 17-21 bilateral manoeuvres called 'Operation N'Gari' involved 600 French soldiers and 120 Gabonese troops maneuvering in the military drill known as Baptise Ngeri. The soldiers were backed by Cougar and Fennec helicopters to coordinate maritime safety operations with UN peacekeepers at Bouna airport, in the Ivory Coast. In the joint exercise soldiers were to be parachuted onto predetermined targets including Nyonie.

Gabon, a former French colony, hosts one of four permanent French bases in Africa. Gabon is a country in west central Africa sharing borders with the Gulf of Guinea to the west, Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, and Cameroon to the north, with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. According the FFG which has around 1,000 troops in Gabon, the French Forces in Gabon (FFG)'s role is "to assure the safety of the 12,000 French residents in the country in case of threat, and carry out aid missions."

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Sources [edit]

Zhang Xiang. "Toll of French helicopter crash in Gabon rises to seven" — Xinhua, January 19, 2009
"Seven French soldiers killed in crash, one still missing" — Radio France Internationale, January 19, 2009
"Gabon crash kills French soldiers" — BBC Online, January 19, 2009
"Six missing, one dead in Gabon helicopter crash" — Taipei Times, January 19, 2009
"French army helicopter crashes, seven dead, one missing" — Agence France-Presse, January 18, 2009
"Country profile: Gabon" — BBC Online, June 28, 2008

External links [edit]

Wikipedia has more about this subject:

2009 Gabonese helicopter crash

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