IV 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 821 
Urging the Government of Gabon to respect democratic principles during 
the August 2016 presidential elections. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 12, 2016 
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. ROYCE, and Mr. 
MEEKS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Urging the Government of Gabon to respect democratic 
principles during the August 2016 presidential elections. 
Whereas the United States has deep interests in the political 
freedom, democratic stability, and regional leadership of 
Gabon; 
Whereas Gabon boasts a per capita income four times that 
of most sub-Saharan African nations, but because of high 
income inequality, a large proportion of the population 
remains poor; 
Whereas despite constrained political conditions, Gabon’s 
small population, abundant natural resources, and con-
siderable foreign support have helped make it one of the 
more stable African countries; 
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•HRES 821 IH 
Whereas Gabon gained independence from France in 1960 
and Omar Bongo Ondimba became president in 1967, so-
lidifying the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) domi-
nance of power ever since; 
Whereas Gabon adopted a constitution in 1991 that formal-
ized a multiparty system and imposed a two-term presi-
dential term limit; 
Whereas the constitution was amended to remove presidential 
term limits in 2003; 
Whereas President Omar Bongo Ondima died in June 2009 
after more than 40 years in power, making him one of 
Africa’s longest serving heads of state; 
Whereas following the death of President Omar Bongo 
Ondima, elections were hastily organized in August 2009 
in which the son of the former president, Ali Bongo 
Ondimba, was elected with 41 percent of the vote; 
Whereas the legitimacy of the 2009 election results was 
largely disputed by opposition parties and civil society, 
and greatly increased political tensions in the country 
since; 
Whereas the Department of State reported that the 2009 
elections were plagued with instances of destructive dem-
onstrations, human rights abuses, irregularities of voter 
registration lists, improperly guarded polls, unfair censor-
ship of news coverage, and post-election violence; 
Whereas Gabon is scheduled to hold presidential elections in 
August 2016; 
Whereas a free and fair election in Gabon holds regional sig-
nificance as an example for other African countries that 
have elections scheduled in the near future; 
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•HRES 821 IH 
Whereas the citizens of Gabon have demonstrated their sup-
port for the democratic process and have actively partici-
pated in political parties and elections; 
Whereas tensions in Gabon are growing from grievances 
about the legal framework of elections, including respect 
of the constitution and current laws, independence of in-
stitutions within the electoral system, terms limits, and 
the lack of representation of civil society on election man-
agement bodies; 
Whereas since the 2009 presidential election, some political 
demonstrations have been met with tension and violence, 
which have only been exacerbated by the lack of equal ac-
cess to public and private media by opposition parties 
and civil society organizations; 
Whereas certain innovative institutions in Gabon, such as the 
National Council for Democracy (CND) and the office of 
the Mediator of the Republic, can potentially play a posi-
tive role in fostering citizen participation in elections and 
advance democratic principles; and 
Whereas there is concern for misconduct in the upcoming 
elections, including the mishandling of voter registration, 
creating barriers to election day polling, and the integrity 
of the election results: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) calls on the Gabonese Government to— 
(A) hold orderly, peaceful, free, and fair 
presidential elections in August 2016 in order 
to ensure stability and long-term growth of 
Gabon; 
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•HRES 821 IH 
(B) guarantee fair and open participation 
of opposition parties; and 
(C) guarantee the freedom of speech and 
assembly of all Gabonese citizens; 
(2) encourages continued efforts toward the 
consolidation of democracy through increased dia-
logue and concrete actions to address constitutional 
and legal framework of electoral systems and sup-
ports Gabonese organizations that work to further 
strengthen democratic processes; 
(3) calls on the citizens of Gabon to fully and 
peacefully participate in the presidential elections; 
and 
(4) calls on the United States and other inter-
national partners, especially electoral focused non-
governmental organizations, to help create an envi-
ronment which facilitates open communication, guar-
antees free and fair elections, encourages voter par-
ticipation, and fosters a robust civil society. 
Æ 
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