"LE GABON ENERVANT" OR "ANNOYING GABON"

 

      English version   In Paris, specialists in real estate speculation are said to be activating around the sale by Gabon of the Pozzo di Borgo residence, for the price of 200 million euros (more than 120 billion CFA francs). Some are said to be real estate agents hired by people to whom the Ali Bongo regime owes money.   One Philippe Beck is said to have a debt owed by the Gabonese State for about 100 million euros (more than 60 billion CFA francs). It should be noted, however, that a judge of the Paris Court of Appeal reportedly ruled, in 2021, that this debt came from an act of corruption involving Gabonese officials. The proceedings would be in cassation.   Philippe Beck knows that any sale would be impossible as long as this residence is subject to litigation. He would therefore use this leverage to force the Gabonese state to meet him on the negotiating table. He has even already had discussions with the Gabonese task force, in charg...

 

 

 

      English version   The Magali Palmira Wora story has already had an effect; that of dampening the enthusiasm of members of the Gabonese diaspora having comfortable situations abroad, to return home. If they can appoint someone to a high position, in the Council of Ministers, then leave this person without salary for the first 5 months of taking office, it means that the country is not ready for the diaspora.   Seven months after the start of the transition, the political situation in the country is still confused; with a transitional government which has no constitutional legitimacy, and a population which, every day, wonders when the regime in place will give them back the promised dignity and proceed with the establishment of the rule of law.   The country is going through a moment that is as historic as it is critical. Brice-Clotaire Oligui-Nguema informed members of the Gabonese diaspora that they should quickly return home, to cont...

 

 

  Magali Palmira Wora     English version   OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE TRANSITION, Brice-Clotaire Oligui-Nguema   Mr. President,   It is with humility that I write this open letter to you.   Following my appointment as Director General of Arts and Cultural Industries, I would like to express my sincere thanks for the trust you have placed in me.   This appointment allowed me to understand the deep difficulties of the Gabonese administration. I hope that you will have the opportunity to resolve this gradually, even if the bad habits persist.   Indeed, I have the honor to bring to Your Very High Attention the following elements relating to the difficulties I have faced as Director-General:   ⁃ From the time of my appointment to the start of my tenure, I have not received any salary. Since I am not a civil servant, I had to sign an employment contract as a senior civil servant. On several occasion...

      English version   The Minister of Transport of Gabon, Dieudonné Loïc Ndinga-Moudouma, and his collaborators were on the set of the program "Les Grands Dossiers". What we can say is that he is definitely a good soldier, he seems willing and determined. But unfortunately, he is very mistaken about the prerogatives of his ministry in relation to the parastatals under his supervision.   For example, the Minister scandalously asserted, with all the military authority, that the Director General of Sogatra had no strategic role in the running of the company and that the strategy was the responsibility of the Ministry of Transport and the operational was that of the Director General of Sogatra. This is false and very inaccurate. This goes against all the management principles known and taught in all business and management schools.   The CEO of a company is responsible for developing the company's strategy, and for the operationality of th...

      English version   One thing is for sure, the majority of Gabonese citizen who can be counted as millionaires today in Gabon, have made their money ether directly or indirectly because of the state coffers. During the last 56 years, the Bongo regime did not allow for Gabonese citizens to be independently wealthy. This was viewed as a risk by the Bongo regime which feared that independently wealthy Gabonese might want to take political power.   Today, Brice-Clotaire Oligui-Nguema says that he wants to create a class of genuine Gabonese businessmen and women, who might take the front roles in the Gabonese economy. This blog is dubious about the possibility that this ambition would extent to regular Gabonese citizens. In fact, everything indicates that the regime would pick their own people to be the face of Gabon’s entrepreneurship.   Unfortunately, many regular Gabonese are falling prey to this promise. They believe that would become...

      English version     A few times ago, we had already called on the Gabonese Minister of the Economy to present a more accurate overview of the health of the Gabonese economy, by including a wide range of economic indicators, including: Gross Domestic Product (GDP); unemployment rate; inflation rate; and trade balance.   If all these factors could be provided monthly, they would provide the Gabonese people with a better assessment of the health of their economy, because tax revenues alone do not provide a comprehensive evaluation of the economy. While tax revenues are an important metric, it only represents one aspect of the overall economic picture.   By considering all these indicators, the Gabonese public could gain a more holistic understanding of the economy and its performance. Evaluating an economy requires looking at multiple indicators in conjunction to get a comprehensive understanding of its strengths, weaknesses, and ove...

      English version   Dear readers, the last minutes of the Council of Ministers of Gabon held on Friday, February 23, 2024, is an 86-page document.   Of these 86 pages, 30 pages are dedicated to the work of this council, and 56 pages are devoted to appointments. In fact, dear readers, today, appointments are the raison d'être of these councils of ministers. Brice-Clotaire Oligui-Nguema appoints at will, and he elevates anyone; It's getting ridiculous.   In his first speech, Brice-Clotaire Oligui-Nguema said that the state could not be the main provider of employment, and he was right. But we observe that in practice, Brice-Clotaire Oligui-Nguema uses the Council of Ministers as his personal employment agency. He appoints any crank, with no profile or record of service worth examining. Imposters have never been so well served.   “I can turn a minister into a dog and a dog into a minister”, said Omar Bongo. Brice-Clotaire Oligu...