Gabon’s opposition is split on a proposal from the national dialogue to suspend nearly 200 political parties and ban members of the ousted President Ali Bongo’s Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) from participating in elections for three years.
Proponents argue it targets corrupt parties and prevents alleged vote-buying, while critics fear it could undermine democracy.
The leaders of the talks have presented a range of recommendations to transitional President General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.
Resolutions and recommendations were delivered to Oligui on Tuesday, with Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera present.
Touadera, serving as the regional mediator, oversees Gabon’s transition to civilian rule after a bloodless coup on August 30 that ousted the Bongo family’s 57-year rule over the oil-rich nation.
Alongside the proposal to suspend political parties and temporarily bar PDG leaders from elections, officials suggest enacting legislation to curb the proliferation of parties driven by personal motives.
However, some dialogue participants express concerns that suspending parties could pave the way for Oligui’s easy victory in the August 2025 elections.
Joel Ngouenini, the president of the Seven Wonders of Gabon’s People political party (7MP), emphasised on Gabon state TV on Tuesday that the nation shouldn’t venture into a peculiar form of democracy.
He stressed that democracy entails granting people the right to express themselves through voting, asserting that it’s not the government’s role to judge civilian affinity towards a political party.
Ngouenini cautioned that accepting a recommendation for silencing political freedom could lead Gabon towards dictatorship.
On the other hand, Noel Bertrand Boundzanga, heading the commission proposing the suspension of all political parties, acknowledged receiving numerous petitions from opposition and civil society groups denouncing the proposal as profoundly undemocratic.
However, he contends that the measure will ultimately benefit the country.
Boundzanga emphasized that the unanimous recommendation from the political commission was made in the interest of democracy and the overall welfare of Gabon’s citizens.
He stated that suspending political parties would send a clear message to politicians who exploit parties for unlawful gains, marking a new era for the nation.
Additionally, dialogue officials suggested maintaining the two-year transition period to democratic rule, allowing for a potential extension of up to 12 months in the event of a crisis or unforeseen circumstances.
The recommendations also propose transitioning Gabon from a semi-presidential to a presidential system, where a directly elected president would lead the executive branch, distinct from the legislative and judicial branches of government.
Officials further suggested a seven-year presidential term, renewable once, starting from August 2025, the anticipated date of the presidential polls.
Notably, no recommendations would hinder Oligui from seeking the presidency.
The month-long dialogue concluded on Tuesday, with Oligui announcing plans for a new constitution, incorporating the dialogue’s recommendations.
He revealed that a referendum on the new charter is scheduled for June.
YOU MAY ALSO READ: Haiti’s transitional council appoints Fritz Belizaire as prime minister amid escalating violence