afrol News, 15 June - Gabonese Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe Ndong is expected to resign this week with several members of his government, after the burial of President Omar Bongo who died at a Spanish hospital last Monday, the office of the presidency has said in a statement.

Reports said Prime Minister Ndong wrote a letter of resignation after the constitutional court ruled on Friday that the government's functions had ceased automatically when the new interim president had been sworn in.

Senate chair, Francine Rose Rogombe, who was sworn in as a leader for Gabon is expected to set up a transitional government pending presidential elections due in 45 days.

"A schedule of the preparations and organisation of the presidential elections will be established as quick as possible and submitted to the council of ministers for examination, immediately after our late President Bongo is buried," the presidency said.

Meanwhile civil society groups in the country said both the former and current members of the government should not contests forthcoming presidential elections in the west African state.

The call according to local reports is specifically targeted at Preisdent Bongo’s son, who is expected to take over from his father.

The body of the late Mr Bongo who had led Gabon since 1967, arrive back in the country last Thursday where it is lying in state at the presidential palace in the capital. He will be buried at Franceville in the Bateke region of his birth in south-east Gabon on Thursday.

Africa’s longest serving President Bongo died of cardiac arrest at a Spanish hospital where he had been treated for weeks.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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