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Article: Bongo to extend rule to 45 years: President Omar Bongo, already Africa's longest serving head of state, has won another seven years in office following the latest elections. While Bongo's rule has brought stability and prosperity, the question is what will happen when he finally goes and the oil runs out. Neil Ford reports.(politics)
- Article from:
- African Business
- Article date:
- February 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 IC Publications Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Great advances have been made in the cause of African democracy over the past decade. More heads of state have voluntarily handed over control to both members of their own party or opposition leaders than at any time during the independence period.
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Yet there are still many cases where the result of an election is a mere formality, whether because of a lack of democratic freedom or because of government control of the means of campaigning. In the recent presidential election in Gabon, for example, there was little doubt that President Omar Bongo would retain his position.
President Bongo secured 79.21% of the vote, far ahead of ...