The ailing president of Gabon, Ali Bongo is to continue with his medical treatment in Morocco instead of Saudi Arabia.
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 has admitted that he had undergone surgery and was “recovering most of his functions”.
On Tuesday Mr. Bongo’s wife Sylvia Bongo wrote on Facebook that her husband’s health has seen an improvement ahead of his transfer from Saudi Arabia to Morocco.
Mr. Bongo is expected in Morocco on Wednesday to continue with his recovery.
Mrs. Bongo said “To pursue his convalescence, the president, in consultation with his close family, has decided to accept the proposal of his brother, His Majesty the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI”.
Bongo absence causes political crisis
But with his absence due to illness the Gabon constitutional court moved to end a governance crisis.
The Constitutional Court said it had to modify the constitution 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.”
There have been sharp criticisms from opposition political parties though to this move.
Bongo to stay on
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
