GOVERNMENT
Under
the 1961 constitution (revised in 1975, rewritten in 1991, and
revised in 2003), Gabon is a republic with a presidential form
of government. The National Assembly has 120 deputies elected
for a 5-year term. The president is elected by universal suffrage
for a 7-year term. The president can appoint and dismiss the prime
minister, the cabinet, and judges of the independent Supreme Court.
The president also has other strong powers, such as authority
to dissolve the National Assembly, declare a state of siege, delay
legislation, and conduct referenda. A 2003 constitutional amendment
removed presidential term limits and facilitated a presidency
for life.
In 1990
the government made major changes to Gabon's political system.
A transitional constitution was drafted in May 1990 as an outgrowth
of the national political conference in March-April and later
revised by a constitutional committee. Among its provisions were
a Western-style bill of rights; creation of a National Council
of Democracy to oversee the guarantee of those rights; a governmental
advisory board on economic and social issues; and an independent
judiciary. After approval by the National Assembly, the PDG Central
Committee, and the President, the Assembly unanimously adopted
the constitution in March 1991. Multiparty legislative elections
were held in 1990-91, despite the fact that opposition parties
had not been declared formally legal.
The elections
produced the first representative, multiparty National Assembly.
In January 1991, the Assembly passed by unanimous vote a law governing
the legalization of opposition parties. After President Bongo
was re-elected in a disputed election in 1993 with 51% of votes
cast, social and political disturbances led to the 1994 Paris
Conference and Accords, which provided a framework for the next
elections. Local and legislative elections were delayed until
1996-97. In 1997, constitutional amendments were adopted to create
an appointed Senate and the position of vice president, and to
extend the president's term to 7 years.
For
administrative purposes, Gabon is divided into 9 provinces, which
are further divided into 36 prefectures and 8 separate subprefectures.
The president appoints the provincial governors, the prefects,
and the subprefects.
Principal
Government Officials
President of the Republic, Founder of the Gabonese Democratic Party--El Hadj Omar Bongo
Vice President--Didjob Divungi Di Ndinge
Prime Minister, Head of Government--Jean Eyeghe Ndong
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation--Laure Olga Gondjout
Ambassador to the United States--Carlos Boungou
Ambassador to the United Nations--Denis Dangue Rewaka
Gabon
maintains an embassy in the United States at 2034 20th Street
NW, Washington, DC 20009 (tel. 202-797-1000).
Type: Republic.
Independence: August 17, 1960.
Constitution: February 21, 1961 (revised April 15, 1975; rewritten March 26, 1991; revised July 29, 2003).
Branches: Executive--president (head of state); prime minister (head of government) and appointed Council of Ministers. Legislative--bicameral legislature (National Assembly and Senate). Judicial--Supreme Court.
Administrative subdivisions: 9 provinces, 36 prefectures, and 8 subprefectures.
Political parties: Parti Democratique Gabonais (PDG) holds the largest number of seats in the National Assembly; there are several others.
Suffrage: Universal, direct.
Central government budget (2001 est.): Receipts--$1.6 billion; expenses--$1.2 billion; defense (1999)--3.0% of government budget.
