Gabon President Proposes Cutting Presidential Mandate

Gabon President, Ali Bongo has proposed shortening the presidential mandate from seven to five years.

This comes as he began consultations to prepare for elections this year and measures to prevent violence.

Report says more than two days of deadly unrest followed Gabon’s last elections in 2016 after the opposition rejected Ali Bongo’s victory and alleged fraud.

“On the eve of future general elections, I have today decided to set the term of office for all elections to five years,” Bongo said

The move will require constitutional reform and a vote in parliament.

Meanwhile, there are currently no constitutional term limits in Gabon.

Mr. Bongo has been president of the oil-producing West African nation since succeeding his father, Omar, who died in 2009.

He has not said whether he will run for a third term in the 2023 race for which an exact date has not yet been set.

The consultations on the upcoming elections are scheduled to last until Feb. 24.

REUTERS/Christopher Ojilere