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GABON-POLITICS-MOROCCO
New Gabon government announced from abroad
LIBREVILLE, Jan 13, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Gabon’s prime minister announced a
new government in a video message recorded thousands of miles away in
Morocco, where ailing Gabonese President Ali Bongo is recovering from a
stroke.
Recently appointed PM Julien Nkoghe Bekale gave details of the reshuffle
in footage broadcast late Saturday on state television, less than a week
after the country foiled an attempted coup.
Gabon has been without effective government for months since Bongo
suffered the stroke in October during a visit to Saudi Arabia.
A new cabinet was also announced on Saturday evening by presidential
secretary Jean-Yves Teale in another video missive recorded in Morocco. No
significant changes were made to either the cabinet or the government.
Gabon’s constitution states that ministers must take their vows before the
president — but in Bongo’s lengthening absence it is unclear how, when and
where the ceremony will take place.
On Monday renegade soldiers stormed a state radio station to call for an
uprising while Bongo was abroad.
Security forces captured the rebel chief and killed two of his men at the
broadcasting offices in the capital Libreville, restoring calm to the city
after hours of upheaval.
However questions remain over the balance of power in the West African
nation where political change has been negligible for more than half a
century.
Brice Laccruche Alihanga, head of the cabinet since 2017 who is reportedly
close to first lady Sylvia Bongo, retained his post in the new line-up.
Ali Bongo, 59, is the son of Omar Bongo, who became head of state in 1967
and died in June 2009, leaving a legacy of corruption allegations.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0846 hrs