The National Democratic Institute (NDI) experts carried out an evaluation mission in Gabon from May 29 to June 3, 2016.

Officials of the American Non-governmental Organisation, National Democratic Institute (NDI) have urged political actors in Gabon that include the authorities, politicians, media practitioners, trade unions, religious leaders and all strata of the population to spare no effort to ensure that the upcoming presidential election enters the annals of history as that which came to consolidate peace and democracy for the interest of all Gabonese.

The recommendation came at the end of the five-day mission in which the NDI officials noticed high tension, fear and doubts in actors from across the political divide, Gabon Review reported.  For the tension to be attenuated, government has to initiate pre-electoral, as well as post-electoral dialogue in the coming days in order to cleanse the political climate.

The National Democratic Institute is expected to contribute its own quota to the better organization of the August 2016 presidential election. This is in conformity with the objective of the evaluation mission that set out to assess the level of preparations and identify the possibilities of subsequent support to ensure the holding of a peaceful, transparent and credible election.

After the evaluation exercise, the American NGO called for the strengthening of institutions such as the National Independent and Permanent Electoral Commission (CENAP), National Communication Council (CNC) and the National Democratic Council (CND). Each of the institutions have specific recommendations within the framework of their responsibilities. One of the key recommendations related to the signing the code of conduct and its popularization by all actors.  The participation of the civil society organizations in the electoral process has to be effective and visible in the recruitment and deployment of observers at all levels of the process.