"LE GABON ENERVANT" OR "ANNOYING GABON"

English version  In Gabon, a kounabelist, a very beautiful term that proves how humorously astute the Gabonese are, is a political courtier, a flatterer, a yes man/woman; that is to say, an individual gravitating around the high spheres of power whose main objective is to obtain, retain or increase their personal benefit, not by their skills or convictions, but by absolute complacency towards the leader. Given the epidemic of kounabeliste going on in Gabon these days, this blog has developed a quick scientific test to check yourself and find out whether you are a full fledged kounabelistes,    a burgeoning one, or the absolute opposite of one. Here is the scientific test: This blog developed a 10-question assessment, formatted as a standard political science inventory to measure leader-centric allegiance and unconditional political loyalty. Instructions:  Please rate your level of agreement with the following statements on a scale from 1 to 5.  (1 = Strongly Dis...

 

English version  Dear readers, here is a breakdown of the major axes of CBON's address, which are particularly revealing of the governance dynamics, public finances, and structural reforms presented by CBON: 1. Macroeconomics, Debt, and Relations with the IMF CBON addressed the issue of public debt, recalling that it reached 70% of GDP before the transition, a burden he described as abyssal. Restructuring without austerity:  He confirmed that rigorous discussions are underway with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, he sought to reassure the public by stating that no drastic austerity plan would be imposed. The debt is deemed sustainable by him, without further explanation. The doctrine of useful debt:  Faced with criticism over new borrowing (notably with the Suez company for the water sector or the AFD for the railway), CBON took responsibility for resorting to debt. He defended debt backed by productive investments and infrastructure, rejecting the idea tha...

English version  Dear readers, what you are reading above is the most repulsive form of sycophantic journalism or commissioned PR disguised as news, a phenomenon that is particularly visible across many Gabonese media outlets. The overflowing enthusiasm of this type of article, featuring expressions like  "Gabon challenges the great maritime nations"  or  "When Gabon dreams big!" , poses several major risks to public debate and the country's actual development. By presenting a project that has barely laid its first stone as if it were already a global success, this brand of journalism prevents citizens from asking the real economic questions: What is the actual cost of the infrastructure? What is the profitability model when facing maritime giants already established in West Africa? What are the exact environmental impacts on the Komo-Océan department? Gabon has a long history of mega-projects announced with great pomp that ultimately stagnated or turned into wh...