Gabon’s transitional Premier alludes to 24-month transition before new elections

Raymond Ndong Sima, the transitional Premier of Gabon has told French media AFP that the central African country will need at least 24 months as transitional period for new elections after the Army seized power on August 30.

Ndong Sima, a former Prime Minister under the regime of ousted leader Ali Bongo Odimba, was September 07 appointed in the same position by the transitional President Brice Oligui Nguema to form a cabinet. In an interview with AFP, Ndong Sima however said Gabon will need at least 24 months as a transitional period before new elections. “It’s a good idea to start with a reasonable objective, saying: we want the process to be completed in 24 months, so that we can go back to holding elections,” he said.

Sima was a candidate for August 26 elections but he pulled out in favor of Albert Ondo Ossa, the unique candidate of a grouping of opposition parties. “It would not be a good idea for the military to run, so that they can be impartial and objective arbiters of the election”, he emphasized. The 68-year old man unveiled a 26-member Cabinet.