The lawmakers are at odds with growing public protests calling for an end to the Bongo dynasty.

Gabonese are saying ça suffit – that’s enough  – with increasingly regularity and volume.

They’re referring to the 50-year Bongo dynasty.

President Ali Bongo came to power in 2009 on the death of his father Omar Bongo who had been at the helm for 42 years.

Oil-rich Gabon has the highest per capita income in Africa.

But the average disguises the reality.

The United Nations says 60 percent of the 1,7 million Gabonese live below the poverty line.

Youth unemployment is  37 percent.

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Essid, who’d been in power for a year and a half, was expected the result after several ruling coalition MPs withdrew their support.

ends intro

Habib Essid ’s the sixth prime minister to fall since the 2011 Arab Spring brought democracy to Tunisia.

Negotiations to find his replacement start today.

Corruption, security, unemployment and growth are the yardstick he will be measured on.

Tunisia’s vital tourism industry been by lacerated

by two high-profile attacks in Tunisia, killing 59 foreign tourists last year.

The country has been in a state of emergency since November 2015, when a suicide bombing  claimed by ISIL, killed 12 presidential guards in central Tunis.

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Botswana goes to the polls to the polls tomorrow after the fiercest election campaign since independence nearly 50 years ago.

The opposition to the ruling Botswana Democratic Party has achieved an unprecedented  unity. It’s hoping to profit from 18% unemployment and increasing corruption in South Africa’s diamond-rich western neighbour.

The Botswana Democatic Party is struggling to retain its grip on power.

It faces an uncharacteristically cohesive opposition, including independent candidates who are former members of the ruling party.

The BDP’s image’s been dented by the way the party conducted its primaries.

President Ian Khama, who’s been in power since 2008 is popular for  generous social programmes that have brought Botswana greater economic equality than most other African countries.

But critics of the government say his anti-corruption record is becoming eroded, with several ministers and senior officials having been taken to court on graft charges.

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