- An interim ban has been placed on the activities of about 20 non-governmental organisations by the Gabonese government. The ban order was announced after the NGOs were accused of interfering in the country's politics.
Gabonese Minister of Interior, Andre Mba Obame, said the ban would be lifted provided each NGO clearly briefs his office about its function and structure.
Obame asked the NGOs to venture into politics within the framework of political parties rather than doing politics behind the scenes.
But the NGOs, who grind axe with Gabaon government for diverting huge sums of state resources into political campaigns, vowed to file international legal action in protest. They described the government's planned battle to stamp out corruption and effect reforms as mere rhetorics.
The organisations are divided into four umbrella networks addressing problems relating to the environment, poverty, good governance and fight against corruption.
The government's crack down on NGOs followed the 40th anniversary celebration of President Omar Bongo's rule.
Bongo is so far Africa's longest serving leader today. Bongo wants to run the state of affairs of Gabon until his last breathe and had earlier declared his intention to contest the 2012 presidential polls.
He came to power in 1967 after the death of the former Gabonese President Leon Mba and had introduced one party state until 1991. Bongo has since then been winning elections, the last being in November 2005 when he polled over 79% of the votes to begin a fresh seven-year term in office.
Gabonese leader rubbished an earlier media reports that he was on the verge of passing the leadership mantle to one of his ministers to succeed him to the throne.
"There is no heir apparent. Who says that the succession is up for grabs? I will be a candidate in 2012 if God gives me strength," he earlier said.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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