Q&A: Gabon votes

Africa's 'strong man' expects a third term win

Voters in the Central African state of Gabon are going to the polls to elect a president for a new seven-year mandate.

It is widely expected that veteran President Omar Bongo, facing a divided opposition, will easily secure an unprecedented but controversial third term.

Who are the main candidates?

President Omar Bongo Ondimba: Africa's longest serving leader, he is known as the last of Africa's "Big Men". He came to power in November 1967 at the head of a one-party state. In May 1991 Mr Bongo oversaw the reintroduction of a multi-party system.

These are third presidential elections since 1991. Mr Bongo won the last two polls, in 1993 and 1998. However, the opposition says both votes were marred by electoral fraud.

This time, the 69-year-old president enjoys the support of 40 parties and, according to the UN news agency Irin, his victory is a foregone conclusion.

Zacharie Myboto: A former minister, Zacharie Myboto, 67, this year joined the ranks of those who say the president's rule has lasted long enough.

Mr Myboto, spent 23 years in Mr Bongo's government before quitting in 2001, citing disagreements over policy. He formed the Gabonese Union for Democracy and Development party in April to tap into popular discontent over high poverty and unemployment that belie the nation's oil wealth.

Pierre Mamboundou: Another prominent opposition candidate who lost heavily to Mr Bongo in 1998, 59-year-old Gabonese People's Union (GPU) leader Pierre Mamboundou is seen as a radical frontrunner among the candidates.

He campaigned under the slogan "40 years, that's enough" - referring to Mr Bongo's period in office.

Other candidates standing are Christian-Serge Maroga of the Rally of Democrats (RDD), and Augustin Moussavou King of the Gabonese Socialist Party (PSG).

How is the voting being carried out?

A single-round vote takes place on 25 and 27 November. The first date is set aside for the military to cast their ballots, while the second date is for the general public.

Some 560,000 Gabonese are registered to vote out of population estimated at 1.3 million.

Mr Bongo says the separation of voting over two days will enable troops to maintain order on the 27 November polling day.

There is no indication that international observers are monitoring the polls, despite opposition demands for the presence of neutral observers.

What has been the nature of the campaign?

Campaigning has been largely peaceful and the government has vowed to ensure security during the electoral process.

Officially, campaigning was supposed to be conducted between 13 October and 26 November. However, many party activists have been busy campaigning for most of the year.

President Bongo has used his substantial financial clout to flood the country with campaign T-shirts and posters, while his campaign team has criss-crossed the land handing out sweeteners to potential voters - such as free water and electricity for a month.

The state media has given generous coverage to the Bongo camp. This has irked the opposition which has demanded "consistent" access to public media.

President Bongo's son and likely successor, Defence Minister Ali Bongo, has spearheaded the government propaganda offensive against his father's two main challengers, Mr Mamboundou and Mr Myboto.

What are the key issues?

Oil, wealth and poverty: Gabon's economy is oil-dependant and in theory, Gabonese have one of the highest incomes per capita in the developing world.

However, UN sources indicate the high income has not translated into real improved living standards. Skewed distribution of wealth means that a large section of Gabon's 1.5 million people wallow in poverty.

With oil production in decline and the economy still undiversified, Mr Bongo is being taken to task by the opposition over what happened to the oil windfall.

Democracy: Mr Bongo has never hidden his belief in strong government and his opponents accuse him of dictatorial tendencies. He is likely to win seven more years in power thanks to a 2003 constitutional amendment that removed limits on how many times a president can be re-elected.

Further amendments reducing the presidential election to a single round of voting were condemned by the opposition as a "constitutional coup" meant to keep Mr Bongo in power indefinitely.

Why is there controversy over the National Elections Commission?

The 120-member National Elections Commission (CNE) is the body charged with the organisation of polls but the opposition has accused it of favouring the president.

The CNE is answerable to the eight-member Constitutional Court, which announces the official results. The court is presided over by Marie Madeleine Mborantsuo, a Bongo appointee.

Although the opposition has not pulled out of the CNE, it continues to cast doubts on its credibility. The CNE leadership has vowed not to tolerate cases of corruption among poll officials.

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