Gabonese prime minister resigns, fate in Bongo's hands

Gabonese Prime Minister Paul Biyoghe Mba resigned Monday as required by the constitution following elections that handed his party a resounding victory amid an opposition boycott.

"I went to tender my resignation from the government to the head of state," he said after meeting with President Ali Bongo, who will decide whether to return him to office.

Gabon's constitutional court confirmed on Saturday the landslide win obtained by Bongo's Gabonese Democratic Party (GDP) in the general elections held in December.

The party won more than 100 seats in the 120-member parliament. Six districts had their results invalidated and will hold new polls. Turnout in the December elections was barely 35 percent.

Observers and journalists have speculated over whether Bongo will reappoint Biyoghe Mba, who came to office in July 2009.

Many say he can point to the election triumph and the successful hosting of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations as factors in his favour.

But other candidates for the job have been mooted, including outgoing equipment minister Leon Nzouba, transport minister Julien Nkoghe Bekale and economy minister Magloire Ngambia.

Biyoghe Mba was appointed by interim president Rose Francine, who was Senate speaker when Bongo's father Omar died in 2009 after 41 years at the helm of the west African country.

After Ali Bongo was elected to succeed his father in October that year, he reinstated Biyoghe Mba as prime minister.