Gabon: Tense political climate May 2

Event

On Monday, April 30, the Gabonese Constitutional Court announced a decision to dissolve the National Assembly (lower house of parliament) and demand the resignation of the government due to their incapacity to organize legislative elections, scheduled to take place before the end of April 2018. In the meantime, senators will control the parliament until legislative elections take place. The date of these elections will supposedly be announced by the Constitutional Court after the new Gabonese Center for Elections takes effect. A temporary government will be put in place until the legislative elections take place. Related demonstrations are possible in the coming days and weeks.

Context

These legislative elections have already been delayed twice since the controversial presidential elections in 2016, in which President Ali Bongo's re-election in 2016 led to opposition accusations of electoral fraud.

Advice

All those present in Gabon are advised to closely monitor developments to the situation and avoid all public gatherings due to the risk of violence, which can flare up with little warning.