Gabonese await appointment of new PM

LIBREVILLE - The Gabonese people are impatiently awaiting the appointment of a new prime minister after Paul Biyoghe Mba resigned on Monday night together with members of his government in accordance with the Central African country's constitution.

The subject is the most discussed matter in the public arena and even the media is full of stories on this topic.

"Who will take over the prime minister's office?" was the headline of "L'Union", one of the biggest daily newspapers published in the country.

In its analysis, the newspaper noted that President Ali Bongo Ondimba may use his powers to reappoint the outgoing premier to this post.

"This meets the requirement that the prime minister should come from Estuaire province (whose capital is Libreville), and should especially come from the Fang community," the newspaper added.

Biyoghe Mba meets these requirements, which were established during the regime of the late president, Omar Bongo Ondimba from 1967 to 2009.

It is a rotational policy where senior government positions are redistributed to the country's provinces and among the 56 ethnic groups.

This policy was adopted to help maintain balance between provinces and ethnic groups at the helm of the country's leadership.

A Gabonese performer dances at the Stade De L'Amitie Stadium in Libreville January 27, 2012.[Photo/Agencies]

If Ali Bongo respects this rotational policy and fails to reappoint Biyoghe Mba, then analysts think that he may appoint Julien Nkoghe Bekale, who is the outgoing minister for transport, or he could appoint Adrien Nkoghe Essingone, who is a parliamentarian from Estuaire province and a member of the Fang ethnic group, the biggest tribe in the country.

However, the newspaper also observed that Ali Bongo could break with this tradition which is thought to be entrenching tribalism. If he did this, the Gabonese president could then appoint Emmanuel Nze Bekale, Raymond Ndong Sima or professor Leon Nzouba.

All these individuals are members of the Gabon Democratic Party (PDG), the ruling party. During the legislative elections held on December 17, 2011, the PDG managed to win an absolute majority.

The resignation of the prime minister came just days after the Constitutional Court announced the official results of the December 17 legislative elections.

Article 34 of Gabon's Constitution provides that "the functions of government cease after the president of the republic is sworn in, after the Constitutional Court announces the official results of the legislative elections and, if a vacancy falls in the office of the president, or the president is incapacitated to perform his functions."

The Constitution adds that "in all these cases, the government should ensure expedition of current affairs until a new governmental team is formed."