The president retains strong powers including authority to dissolve the National Assembly, declare a state of siege, delay legislation, submit proposals for vote by referendum, and appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet members. Authorities declared President Bongo the winner of a December 1993 presidential election which was marred by disorganization and a lack of transparency. Civil unrest, demonstrations, and violent repression of dissent followed over a period of several months. Elections for local and provincial councils, the National Assembly, and the Senate were to be administered in 1996 by a newly established independent National Election Commission. Because of income from exports of those products and its small population, Gabon's per capita GDP is the highest in sub-Saharan Africa.
Income distribution is, however, heavily skewed in favor of a small urban elite.
The non-oil economy is dominated by inefficient, overstaffed parastatal enterprises. Gabon welcomes private foreign investment, most of which is in the petroleum sector. Its investment law provides the types of incentives, concessions, and guarantees available in similar oil-producing countries. Unrestrained spending, poor financial management, and embezzlement caused the government to run up extensive internal and external arrears during the 1980s. Gabon suspended payments due under an IMF agreement made in 1989.