III

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. RES. 285

Expressing the sense of the Senate that all necessary steps should be taken

to ensure the elections to be held in Gabon are free and fair.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

OCTOBER 5 (legislative day, OCTOBER 2), 1998

Mr. LUGAR submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on Foreign Relations

OCTOBER 21 (legislative day, OCTOBER 2), 1998

Committee discharged; considered, amended, and agreed to

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Senate that all necessary steps

should be taken to ensure the elections to be held in

Gabon are free and fair.

Whereas Gabon is a heavily forested and oil-rich country on

the west coast of Central Africa;

Whereas Gabon gained independence from France in 1960;

Whereas Gabon is scheduled to hold national elections in December 1998 for the purpose of electing a President;

Whereas the Government of Gabon was subject to singleparty rule until 1990 and only one person has held the

office of the President since 1967;
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Whereas the International Foundation for Election Systems

(IFES) and the African American Institute (AAI) served

as observers during the organization of the 1993 Presidential and legislative elections in Gabon and found widespread electoral irregularities;

Whereas the Government of Gabon is a signatory to the Paris

Accords of 1994, which was approved by national referendum in July 1995, and was instituted to provide for

a state of law guaranteeing basic individual freedoms and

the organization of free and fair elections under a new

independent national election commission;

Whereas the people of Gabon have demonstrated their support for the democratic process through the formation of

numerous political parties since 1990 and their strong

participation in prior elections; and

Whereas it is in the interest of the United States to promote

political and economic freedom in Africa and throughout

the world: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) recognizes and commends those Gabonese who

have demonstrated their love for free and fair elections;

(2) commends the Government of Gabon for inviting the International Foundation for Election Systems

to perform a pre-election assessment study;

(3) calls on the Government of Gabon to—

(A) take further measures to ensure the organization and administration of a transparent and

credible election and to ensure that the national
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election commission is able to independently carry

out its duties; and

(B) further welcome the International Foundation for Election Systems, the National Democratic

Institute, the International Republican Institute,

and other appropriate national and international

nongovernmental organizations to aid the organization of, and to monitor, the December 1998 Presidential election in Gabon, in an effort to assist the

government in ensuring that the elections are free

and fair;

(4) urges the United States Government to continue

to work with the international community, and through

appropriate nongovernmental organizations, to help create an environment which guarantees free and fair elections; and

(5) urges the United States Government and the

international community to continue to encourage and

support the institutionalization of democratic processes

and the establishment of conditions for good governance

in Gabon.

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