CBON COULD NOT REHABILITATE OMAR BONGO WITHOUT REHABILITATING HIS PARTY! CBON NE POUVAIT RÉHABILITER OMAR BONGO SANS RÉHABILITER SON PARTI!
English version On October 30, 2026, CBON received a delegation from the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), led by Blaise Louembé, at the Presidential Palace. CBON said he was ready to "support" the former ruling party's upcoming congress, scheduled for November 27 to 29. The scene is intriguing. How can the man who ended the Bongos' reign in August 2023 display such closeness to the party that served as their instrument for more than half a century? Should this be seen as a rehabilitation of Omar Bongo, the PDG's founder? The answer lies partly in memory, but mostly in very current political calculations. Toppling Ali, Honoring Omar A first point that is often forgotten: the coup of August 30, 2023 overthrew Ali Bongo Ondimba, not his father. For CBON, this distinction is essential. He built his career in the shadow of Omar Bongo, to whom he was very close. Ali Bongo had initially kept him at arm's length, before entrusting him with the Republican Guard, and th...