IV

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. RES. 518

Calling for free and transparent elections in Gabon.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

AUGUST 6, 1998

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida (for himself, Mr. CAMPBELL, Mr. PAYNE, Mr.

DIXON, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mr. SANFORD, and Ms.

MCKINNEY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on International Relations

RESOLUTION

Calling for free and transparent elections in Gabon.

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

central Africa’s west coast;

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 has been subject to single-party rule for a significant period of its recent history

and only 1 person has held the office of the President

since 1967;

Whereas the Freedom House Survey of World Freedom,

1997–1998, determined that ‘‘Gabon’s citizens have
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never been able to exercise their constitutional right to

change their government democratically’’;

Whereas the International Foundation of Electoral Systems

(IFES) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI)

served as observers during 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, approved by national referendum in July 1995, which were to have provided 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

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) recognizes and commends those Gabonese

3 who have demonstrated their love for free and fair

4 elections;

5 (2) calls on the Gabonese Government—

6 (A) to take measures to help ensure a

7 credible election and to ensure that the election

8 commission remains independent and impartial;

9 and
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1 (B) to invite the International Foundation

2 of Electoral Systems (IFES), the National

3 Democratic Institute, the International Repub4 lic Institute, or other appropriate international

5 nongovernmental organizations to organize and

6 supervise the December 1998 Presidential elec7 tion in Gabon, assuring that these elections in

8 Gabon are free and fair;

9 (3) urges the Government of Gabon to take all

10 necessary and lawful steps toward conducting free

11 and fair elections;

12 (4) calls on the international community to join

13 the United States in offering their assistance toward

14 free and fair elections;

15 (5) urges the United States to provide support

16 directly and through appropriate nongovernmental

17 organizations for the organization of free and fair

18 elections in Gabon;

19 (6) calls on the United States to work with the

20 international community in urging the Government

21 of Gabon to create the conditions necessary to guar22 antee free and fair elections; and

23 (7) urges the United States Government and

24 the international community to continue to encour-
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1 age the Government of Gabon to ensure a lasting

2 and committed transition to democracy.

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