"LE GABON ENERVANT" OR "ANNOYING GABON"

English version Following the coup d'état in August 2023, the following charges were leveled against Sylvia Bongo-Valentin and her son Noureddin Bongo-Valentin: Accused Main Charges Sylvia Bongo Ondimba *  Money laundering *  Concealment (of stolen goods/funds) *  Forgery and use of forged documents Noureddin Bongo Valentin *  (Massive) Embezzlement of public funds *  Corruption *  High treason against state institutions Both (and co-accused) *  International financial malpractice as an organized group During their arrests, the military displayed large sums of cash found at their residences. Curiously, after about 20 months in detention, Sylvia and Noureddin Bongo were granted provisional release under judicial supervision ordered by the Gabonese justice system, officially for health reasons. They subsequently left Gabon for Angola, alongside Ali Bongo, on a plane chartered by the Angolan President, João Lourenço. The Gabonese people only learned of th...

English version The situation in Cameroon is an enormous tragedy that touches upon ethics, health, the psychology of power, and governance. We are witnessing the spectacle of an elderly man in the twilight of his life presenting himself to his people as the solution for the future. This goes beyond caricature. While age isn't an absolute indicator, it is statistically more probable that a 92-year-old person faces a decline in their physical and cognitive capacities (memory, processing speed, stress resistance). These capacities are crucial for making quick, informed decisions, as well as for handling the intense workload that the reality of power entails. It’s undeniable that Paul Biya possesses immense experience, which remains a major asset. However, the longevity of his time in power has also led him toward a lack of flexibility, a difficulty in adapting to the world's rapid changes, and a disconnection from the concerns of new generations. Decidedly, power is an intoxicant,...

 

 

 

English version The concept of a single government buyer for the country's strategic imports is being implemented by the Minister of the Economy, Henri-Claude Oyima. This method is an extreme form of foreign trade control that is generally associated with heavily centralized and planned economic systems, such as those that existed in communist countries. We all know what the overall economic results of communist countries were. These systems, often based on the model of import substitution (seeking to produce locally what is imported) and central planning, have generally not led to sustainable and widespread economic success in terms of growth, prosperity, and successful integration into the modern global economy, particularly when compared to market economies. Economic history shows that these models have often led to shortages, a lack of innovation, and inefficiency. However, it is possible to find situations where certain countries have established State monopolies on the import...