Gabon’s Constitutional Court says the country’s constitution has been amended following President Ali Bongo’s illness.
Mr. Bongo has been in hospital in Saudi Arabia since October 24 after visiting the country to attend an economic forum.
There have been speculations about what his illness is with reports claiming the 59 year old suffered a stroke.
The President’s office on Sunday admitted that he had undergone surgery and was “recovering most of his functions”.
But with his absence due to illness the constitutional court has moved to end a governance crisis.
Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo who is the president of the Constitutional Court on Wednesday told reporters that the court has modified the constitution.
What was modified?
That action was taken according to her to address the scenario of “temporary incapacity” by the head of state.
The constitution, before the amendment by the court, says only the president can authorise the vice president to organise a cabinet meeting.
The court says it had to modify that to insert the text that said “In the event of the temporary unavailability of the president… certain functions… may be carried out either by the vice president or the prime minister accordingly, on special authorisation of the Constitutional Court.”
With this clause, the court has now authorised Vice President Pierre-Claver Maganga Moussavou to chair a cabinet meeting. That will ensure that ministers can gather for a meeting to take key policy decisions.
There have been sharp criticisms from opposition political parties though to this move.
Bongo became President in 2009 taking over from his father Omar Bongo. His father had been president for more than 40 years.
This year a new constitution was adopted in Gabon scrapping the country’s presidential term limit of two seven-year term.
The new constitution received overwhelming votes from members of Gabon’s national assembly. This means Gabon’s President Ali Bongo could remain in power without any limit.
Source: Africafeeds.com
