Gabon: Election of Ali-Ben Bongo Ondimba - timeline
Searching more than 75 years of world history
- September 2009. Ali-Ben Bongo Ondimba is declared president, leading to civil unrest in Libreville (the capital) and Port-Gentil as opposition leaders describe the election of the late President Omar Bongo's son as a coup d'tat.
- August 2009. A presidential election is held following the death of President Bongo and results in victory for Bongo's son, Ali-Ben, candidate of the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG).
- July 2009. Ali-Ben Bongo, the defence minister, is selected by the PDG as its candidate to contest the forthcoming presidential election.
- June 2009. President Omar Bongo dies in a hospital in Spain. The president of the Senate (the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature), Rose Francine Rogombe, is appointed as interim head of state.
- May 2009. A senior French independent financial magistrate agrees to launch an investigation into whether President Omar Bongo, and the presidents of Congo and Equatorial, Guinea, have plundered state coffers to build personal fortunes in France.
- December 2006. Elections are held to the National Assembly (the lower chamber of the bicameral legislature) and the ruling PDG retains its large majority.
- November 2005. President Omar Bongo is re-elected for a further seven-year term, winning just under 80 per cent of the vote.
- July 2003. Constitutional amendments to allow Omar Bongo to stand for re-election an unlimited number of times are approved by the legislature.
- January 2002. A new cabinet is formed, again dominated by the ruling PDG, but also including four opposition members.
- December 2001. Elections are held and the ruling PDG retains its large majority in the National Assembly.
- December 1998. Omar Bongo is re-elected for a further seven-year term, gaining some 67 per cent of the vote.
- May 1997. Omar Bongo unexpectedly appoints one of the country's leading opposition figures, Divungui-Di-Ndinge Didjob, to the newly created post of vice president.
- February 1997. A new government formed in the aftermath of the PDG's landslide election victory includes a small number of independents and opposition members.
- December 1996. Legislative elections the culmination of the democratic timetable established by the government and the opposition under the September 1994 Paris Accords result in a landslide victory for the ruling PDG.
- July 1995. In a referendum over 96 per cent of voters approve the full implementation of the constitutional changes envisaged under the Paris accord signed in September 1994 between the government and the opposition.
- September 1994. Weeks of negotiation in Paris between the government and opposition, brokered by Canada, France, and the Organisation of African Unity, end with the announcement of modalities for fresh legislative elections.
- February 1994. At least nine people are killed in clashes between the security forces and opposition demonstrators during four days of unrest in Libreville.
- December 1993. Facing opposition candidates for the first time since taking office in 1967, Omar Bongo is narrowly re-elected president - the announcement of his victory sparks serious unrest with protesters alleging electoral fraud.
- June 1991. A new constitution is introduced which formalises the multiparty system -- it also stipulates that government members have be aged 35 or above, therefore forcing the resignation of Ali-Ben Bongo, as foreign minister.
- September 1990. Following a national conference on political reform, multiparty legislative elections take place -- the PDG remain in power, but opposition parties gain representation.
- May 1990. The worst anti-government rioting of President Omar Bongo's rule erupt in Libreville and Port Gentil following the poisoning of an opposition politician.
- October 1989. The authorities claim to have uncovered a plot to assassinate President Omar Bongo; senior security officials are arrested.
- November 1986. Omar Bongo is re-elected for a further seven-year term.
- August 1985. Exiled opponents of President Omar Bongo's regime announce the setting up of a "government in exile", based in Paris.
- February 1985. Legislative elections are held and the PDG, the sole legal party, again wins all the seats.
- March 1983. At the ruling PDG's third congress, President Omar Bongo reiterates his opposition to the introduction of a multiparty system, stating his belief that such a system would be divisive.
- May 1981. Some 10,000 Cameroonian citizens resident in Gabon are repatriated following violent anti-Cameroonian demonstrations in Libreville and Port-Gentil.
- February 1980. Elections are held and President Omar Bongo's PDG, the sole legal party, wins all seats in the legislature.
- December 1979. President Omar Bongo is re-elected for a further seven-year term, winning 99.9 per cent of the votes cast.
- July 1978. All Benin nationals are expelled from Gabon after President Mathieu Kerekou of Benin accuses Gabon of plotting his overthrow.
- April 1975. President Omar Bongo appoints Vice President Lon Mbiane as prime minister, thereby reducing the latter's powers.
- March 1974. Gabon recognises China and severs ties with Taiwan, the latter's embassy in Libreville being the last in any of the Central African countries.
- November 1973. Gabon is admitted as an associate member of OPEC -- the country's growing prosperity is based on its petroleum industry.
- September 1973. President Omar Bongo, a Roman Catholic, converts to Islam, and changes his forename to Omar.
- September 1971. Germain Mba, an opposition politician and cousin of the late President Mba, is assassinated in mysterious circumstances in Libreville.
- November 1969. President Omar Bongo, already in charge of defence, takes over the additional portfolios of the interior, information and planning.
- February 1969. President Omar Bongo's PDG secure an overwhelming victory in legislative and local elections.
- November 1967. President Mba dies in Paris, aged 65, and he is immediately succeeded by Vice President Bernard-Albert Bongo.
- September 1965. Prison sentences are handed down to the coup plotters of February 1964.
- February 1964. French forces restore Mba's presidency after crushing a military coup.
- February 1961. Leon M'Ba is elected president.
- August 1960. Prime Minister Leon M'Ba proclaims Gabonese independence.
