Léonard Andjembé
Encyclopedia
Léonard Andjembé is a Gabon
ese politician and professor. He is currently the First Vice-President of the Senate of Gabon
, and he was the Senate's Interim President for several months in 2009.
. He was Director of Research and Pedagogy at the Ministry of National Education from October 1976 to March 1978. As a professor, he has taught moral and political philosophy at the Omar Bongo University
in Libreville
and was Secretary-General of the University during the 1980s.
Andjembé, a member of the Gabonese Democratic Party
(PDG), served in the National Assembly
as a Deputy from Lékabi-Lewolo Department until the time of the December 1996 parliamentary election, when he faced Minister of Defense Idriss Ngari
(also a PDG member) in a "fratricidal fight" for the seat. When the Senate was created in 1997, he was elected as a Senator from Ngouoni; he was re-elected to the Senate as a PDG candidate in 2003. As First Vice-President of the Senate, Andjembé temporarily directed the work of the Senate following the death of Senate President Georges Rawiri
on 9 April 2006. President Omar Bongo
rejected the possibility that Andjembé could be elected to succeed Rawiri in May 2006 on the grounds that Bongo and Andjembé originated from the same province and it was necessary to maintain an appropriate regional balance among the heads of state institutions.
Within the PDG, Andjembé was considered one of the leading figures of the party's moderate appeliste faction. As a representative of the Presidential Majority, Andjembé was included on the joint majority–opposition commission on the reform of the electoral process, which began its work in May 2006 and included 12 representatives from the Presidential Majority as well as 12 from the opposition. He was one of several Deputy Secretaries-General of the Gabonese Democratic Party
(PDG) until being replaced during the PDG's 9th Ordinary Congress in September 2008.
In December 2008, Andjembé was again designated as the PDG's candidate for the constituency of Ngouoni and Lékabi-Lewolo Department in the 18 January 2009 Senate election. He won re-election to his seat and was then re-elected as First Vice-President of the Senate on 16 February 2009. Following the death of President Bongo on 8 June 2009, Senate President Rose Francine Rogombé
constitutionally succeeded Bongo as President, and Andjembé accordingly became Interim President of the Senate.
Andjembé was considered to be one of the PDG leaders favorably disposed to Ali Bongo's effort to secure the party's nomination for the August 2009 presidential election
. Bongo received the nomination and then prevailed in the presidential election, according to official results. He was sworn in as President on 16 October 2009, and Rogombé returned to her post as President of the Senate on 20 October, taking over from Andjembé. There was no provision in the constitution specifically enabling her to return to her former post, but it was believed that Rogombé's resumption of duties in the Senate could constitute a precedent in that regard.
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
ese politician and professor. He is currently the First Vice-President of the Senate of Gabon
Senate of Gabon
The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of Gabon. It has 102 members, elected for a six year term in single-seat constituencies by local and départemental councillors...
, and he was the Senate's Interim President for several months in 2009.
Political career
Andjembé was born in the Haut-Ogooué Province of southeastern Gabon and studied in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He was Director of Research and Pedagogy at the Ministry of National Education from October 1976 to March 1978. As a professor, he has taught moral and political philosophy at the Omar Bongo University
Omar Bongo University
Omar Bongo University was founded as the National University of Gabon in 1970. It was renamed in honor of President Omar Bongo in 1978. It is based in Libreville.-Source:* bc.edu* uob.ga...
in Libreville
Libreville
Libreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon, in west central Africa. The city is a port on the Komo River, near the Gulf of Guinea, and a trade center for a timber region. As of 2005, it has a population of 578,156.- History :...
and was Secretary-General of the University during the 1980s.
Andjembé, a member of the Gabonese Democratic Party
Gabonese Democratic Party
The Gabonese Democratic Party , is the ruling and dominant political party of Gabon. Its motto is Dialogue, Tolerance, Peace.It has held power since independence, first under Léon M'ba , then under Omar Bongo...
(PDG), served in the National Assembly
National Assembly of Gabon
The National Assembly of Gabon is the lower house of the Parliament of Gabon. It has 120 members, 111 members elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies and 9 members appointed by the President.-Latest results:...
as a Deputy from Lékabi-Lewolo Department until the time of the December 1996 parliamentary election, when he faced Minister of Defense Idriss Ngari
Idriss Ngari
Idriss Ngari is a Gabonese politician and army general. A relative of President Omar Bongo, Ngari rose rapidly through the ranks of the army, ultimately serving as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces from 1984 to 1994...
(also a PDG member) in a "fratricidal fight" for the seat. When the Senate was created in 1997, he was elected as a Senator from Ngouoni; he was re-elected to the Senate as a PDG candidate in 2003. As First Vice-President of the Senate, Andjembé temporarily directed the work of the Senate following the death of Senate President Georges Rawiri
Georges Rawiri
Georges Rawiri was a Gabonese politician, diplomat and poet.-Biography:Rawiri was born in western Gabon. He became a prominent government official in 1967 when President Omar Bongo took office, with Bongo and Rawiri becoming close friends...
on 9 April 2006. President Omar Bongo
Omar Bongo
El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba , born as Albert-Bernard Bongo, was a Gabonese politician who was President of Gabon for 42 years from 1967 until his death in office in 2009....
rejected the possibility that Andjembé could be elected to succeed Rawiri in May 2006 on the grounds that Bongo and Andjembé originated from the same province and it was necessary to maintain an appropriate regional balance among the heads of state institutions.
Within the PDG, Andjembé was considered one of the leading figures of the party's moderate appeliste faction. As a representative of the Presidential Majority, Andjembé was included on the joint majority–opposition commission on the reform of the electoral process, which began its work in May 2006 and included 12 representatives from the Presidential Majority as well as 12 from the opposition. He was one of several Deputy Secretaries-General of the Gabonese Democratic Party
Gabonese Democratic Party
The Gabonese Democratic Party , is the ruling and dominant political party of Gabon. Its motto is Dialogue, Tolerance, Peace.It has held power since independence, first under Léon M'ba , then under Omar Bongo...
(PDG) until being replaced during the PDG's 9th Ordinary Congress in September 2008.
In December 2008, Andjembé was again designated as the PDG's candidate for the constituency of Ngouoni and Lékabi-Lewolo Department in the 18 January 2009 Senate election. He won re-election to his seat and was then re-elected as First Vice-President of the Senate on 16 February 2009. Following the death of President Bongo on 8 June 2009, Senate President Rose Francine Rogombé
Rose Francine Rogombé
Rose Francine Rogombé is a Gabonese politician who was Acting President of Gabon from June 2009 to October 2009, following the death of long-time President Omar Bongo. She constitutionally succeeded Bongo due to her role as President of the Senate, a post to which she was elected in February 2009...
constitutionally succeeded Bongo as President, and Andjembé accordingly became Interim President of the Senate.
Andjembé was considered to be one of the PDG leaders favorably disposed to Ali Bongo's effort to secure the party's nomination for the August 2009 presidential election
Gabonese presidential election, 2009
A presidential election was held in Gabon on 30 August 2009 after the incumbent President Omar Bongo Ondimba died on 8 June 2009. While the constitution stated that Interim President Rose Francine Rogombé should organise elections within 30 to 45 days, the Constitutional Court accepted the...
. Bongo received the nomination and then prevailed in the presidential election, according to official results. He was sworn in as President on 16 October 2009, and Rogombé returned to her post as President of the Senate on 20 October, taking over from Andjembé. There was no provision in the constitution specifically enabling her to return to her former post, but it was believed that Rogombé's resumption of duties in the Senate could constitute a precedent in that regard.