Page "Politics of Gabon" Paragraph 9

Despite further anti-government demonstrations after the untimely death of an opposition leader, the first multi-party National Assembly elections in almost 30 years took place in September-October 1990, with the PDG garnering a large majority.

Following President Bongo's re-election in December 1993 with 51 % of the vote, opposition candidates refused to validate the election results.

Serious civil disturbances, which were heavily respressed by the presidential guard, led to an agreement between the government and opposition factions to work toward a political settlement.

These talks led to the Paris Accords in November 1994 in which several opposition figures were included in a government of national unity.

This arrangement soon broke down, and the 1996 and 1997 legislative and municipal elections provided the background for renewed partisan politics.

The PDG won a landslide victory in the legislative election, but several major cities, including Libreville, elected opposition mayors during the 1997 local election.

President Bongo coasted to an easy re-election in December 1998 with 66 % of the vote against a divided opposition.

While Bongo's major opponents rejected the outcome as fraudulent, international observers characterized the result as representative even if the election suffered from serious administrative problems.

There was no serious civil disorder or protests following the election in contrast to the 1993 election.