Gabonese presidential election, 1998
Encyclopedia
Presidential elections were held in Gabon
on 6 December 1998. Incumbent President Omar Bongo Ondimba, in power since 1967, sought a seven-year term against five other candidates. It was Gabon's second multi-party presidential election and, despite low turnout and polling problems, Bongo won the election with 66.88% of the vote.
In late July 1998, the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party
(PDG) called for Bongo to run for re-election, praising him as a "trump card for the third millennium". Also in July, the opposition National Woodcutters' Rally
(RNB) split into two factions, one headed by Paul M'ba Abessole
and one headed by Pierre-Andre Kombila
, after Kombila was expelled from the party.
Pierre Mamboundou
of the Union of the Gabonese People
ran as the candidate of the High Council of the Resistance, a coalition of opposition parties. The Gabonese Progress Party
(PGP) of Pierre-Louis Agondjo Okawé supported Mamboundou.
The publication of opinion polls was prohibited by the National Communication Council during the week immediately preceding the election.
According to final results from the Constitutional Court, Bongo won the election with 66.88% of the vote. Mamboundou officially placed second with 16.54% of the vote. Mamboundou denounced the official results as an "electoral coup d'etat" and called on the people to begin a "graduated response" by engaging in a stay at home ("ghost city") protest. Following the election, he alleged that commandos sent by the government tried to kill him on 12 December 1998. While Mamboundou's call for people to stay at home was mostly ignored in Libreville
, Port-Gentil
was reportedly "paralysed".
Jean-François Ntoutoume Emane
was Bongo's campaign manager during the election, and he was subsequently appointed as Prime Minister in January 1999.
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
on 6 December 1998. Incumbent President Omar Bongo Ondimba, in power since 1967, sought a seven-year term against five other candidates. It was Gabon's second multi-party presidential election and, despite low turnout and polling problems, Bongo won the election with 66.88% of the vote.
In late July 1998, the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party
Gabonese Democratic Party
The Gabonese Democratic Party , is the ruling and dominant political party of Gabon. Its motto is Dialogue, Tolerance, Peace.It has held power since independence, first under Léon M'ba , then under Omar Bongo...
(PDG) called for Bongo to run for re-election, praising him as a "trump card for the third millennium". Also in July, the opposition National Woodcutters' Rally
National Woodcutters' Rally
The National Woodcutters Rally is a political party in Gabon. It was founded in 1991 and led by Fr. Paul M'ba Abessole.The party is divided into two factions. A split occurred in July 1998 when Pierre-Andre Kombila founded the National Woodcutters' Rally - Democratic...
(RNB) split into two factions, one headed by Paul M'ba Abessole
Paul M'ba Abessole
Fr. Paul Mba Abessole is a Gabonese politician who heads the National Woodcutters' Rally – Rally for Gabon and was a leading opponent of President Omar Bongo during the 1990s...
and one headed by Pierre-Andre Kombila
Pierre-André Kombila
Pierre-André Kombila Koumba is a Gabonese politician, professor, and medical doctor. He was the First Secretary of the National Rally of Woodcutters , Gabon's main opposition party, from 1990 to 1998; he then led a split from the RNB, establishing the more radical National Rally of Woodcutters -...
, after Kombila was expelled from the party.
Pierre Mamboundou
Pierre Mamboundou
Pierre Mamboundou was a Gabonese politician. He was President of the Union of the Gabonese People , an opposition party in Gabon, from 1989 to 2011.-ACCT career and 1989 events:Mamboundou was born in Mouila...
of the Union of the Gabonese People
Union of the Gabonese People
The Union of the Gabonese People is an opposition political party in Gabon. Officially registered in 1991, the current party president is Pierre Mamboundou....
ran as the candidate of the High Council of the Resistance, a coalition of opposition parties. The Gabonese Progress Party
Gabonese Progress Party
The Gabonese Progress Party is a political party in Gabon.The PGP was established as a left-leaning party in March 1990, at the beginning of the wave of democratization that swept Africa in the early 1990s. Initially its key leaders were Pierre-Louis Agondjo Okawé, who was President, Marc Saturnin...
(PGP) of Pierre-Louis Agondjo Okawé supported Mamboundou.
The publication of opinion polls was prohibited by the National Communication Council during the week immediately preceding the election.
According to final results from the Constitutional Court, Bongo won the election with 66.88% of the vote. Mamboundou officially placed second with 16.54% of the vote. Mamboundou denounced the official results as an "electoral coup d'etat" and called on the people to begin a "graduated response" by engaging in a stay at home ("ghost city") protest. Following the election, he alleged that commandos sent by the government tried to kill him on 12 December 1998. While Mamboundou's call for people to stay at home was mostly ignored in Libreville
Libreville
Libreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon, in west central Africa. The city is a port on the Komo River, near the Gulf of Guinea, and a trade center for a timber region. As of 2005, it has a population of 578,156.- History :...
, Port-Gentil
Port-Gentil
Port-Gentil or Mandji is the second-largest city of Gabon and a leading seaport. It is the center of Gabon's petroleum and timber industries. Although it lies inshore, the nearby mainland is a remote forest area and it is not connected by road to the rest of the nation...
was reportedly "paralysed".
Jean-François Ntoutoume Emane
Jean-François Ntoutoume Emane
Jean-François Ntoutoume Emane is a Gabonese politician who was Prime Minister of Gabon from 23 January 1999 to 20 January 2006. Since 2008 he has been Mayor of Libreville, the capital....
was Bongo's campaign manager during the election, and he was subsequently appointed as Prime Minister in January 1999.
Results
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omar Bongo Ondimba | Gabonese Democratic Party Gabonese Democratic Party The Gabonese Democratic Party , is the ruling and dominant political party of Gabon. Its motto is Dialogue, Tolerance, Peace.It has held power since independence, first under Léon M'ba , then under Omar Bongo... |
211,955 | 66.9 |
| Pierre Mamboundou Pierre Mamboundou Pierre Mamboundou was a Gabonese politician. He was President of the Union of the Gabonese People , an opposition party in Gabon, from 1989 to 2011.-ACCT career and 1989 events:Mamboundou was born in Mouila... |
Union of the Gabonese People Union of the Gabonese People The Union of the Gabonese People is an opposition political party in Gabon. Officially registered in 1991, the current party president is Pierre Mamboundou.... |
52,278 | 16.5 |
| Paul M’ba-Abessole | National Woodcutters Rally | 47,701 | 13.2 |
| Pierre André Kombila | National Woodcutters Rally | 4,847 | 1.5 |
| Pierre-Claver Maganga Moussavou | Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party (Gabon) The Social Democratic Party is a political party in Gabon. It is part of the Presidential Majority coalition and is led by Pierre-Claver Maganga Moussavou.... |
3,152 | 1.0 |
| Martin Edzodzomo Ella | Independent | 1,548 | 0.5 |
| Alain Engouang Nze | Common Movement for Development Common Movement for Development The Common Movement for Development was a political party in Gabon, led by Paul Biyoghé Mba. It merged into the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party in November 2002.... |
892 | 0.3 |
| Joseph Adrien Mabicka Maguena | Independent | 527 | 0.2 |
| Total | 316,900 | 100 | |
| Source: Nohlen et al | |||