At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Gabon

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Paulin OBAME Nguema
• Assembly: Gabon has a bicameral Legislature consisting of the Senate with 91 seats and the National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) with 120 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 7-year term.
• In the Senate 91 members are elected by members of municipal councils and departmental assemblies to serve 5-year terms. In the National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) 120 members are elected by direct popular vote to serve 5-year terms.

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

• El Hadj Omar BONGO
  • Party: Democratic Party of Gabon
• Pierre MAMBOUNDOU
  • Party: Union of the Gabonese People (UPG)
• Paul MBA ABESSOLE
  • Party: National Rally of Lumberjacks (RNB)
• Pierre Andre KOMBILA
  • Party: National Rally of Lumberjacks (RNB)
• Pierre Claver MAGANGA MOUSSAVOU
  • Party: Social Democratic Party (PSD)
• Other candidates
  • Party: N/A

Last Presidential election:

• The last presidential election was held on December 5, 1993. In this election, El Hadj Omar BONGO received 51.18% of the vote and thus defeated Paul M'BA ABESSOLE, his closest competitor with 26.51% of the vote.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 1,173,114 (1998)
• Registered Voters: 580,000 (1998 approx.)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 592,848 (1998)

·         Is Gabon a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Gabon ratified CEDAW: Yes (21 January 1983)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: No

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 6 (National Assembly) following 1996 elections; 10 (Senate) following 1997 elections

·         Human Development Index Position: 110 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Very High (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Gabon a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Gabon ratified CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Population with a disability: 175,967 (est.)