"LE GABON ENERVANT" OR "ANNOYING GABON"

English version Reappointed as Vice-President of the Government on October 11, 2026, Hermann Immongault thanked God and CBON. It is a seemingly ordinary turn of phrase, but it says a great deal about how power is exercised in Gabon. In his statement, the executive's number two says he gives thanks to God "with infinite gratitude" for the trust CBON has just renewed in him. He then pledges to serve the Republic "with loyalty, rigor and determination." This almost religious register of gratitude has become a ritual with every reshuffle in Gabon.  That is precisely why it deserves a closer look: in a democracy, is such a statement acceptable? The first source of unease is the absence of citizens. The Vice-President of the Government thanks God and the President, but never the Gabonese people he is supposed to serve. The message is clear: legitimacy flows down from the top, not up from the people. This is no accident. Since the Constitution of the Fifth Republic, th...

English version On October 11, 2026, CBON announced a new government. In Gabon, this kind of cabinet reshuffle, which expanded the team from 30 to 33 members with 8 new entries and 5 departures, serves several strategic goals: 1. Adjusting performance and "sanctioning" Reshuffles allow the head of state to assess how effective the team has been. By removing some ministers and bringing in new profiles, the executive seeks to breathe new life into government action and to let go of members whose results fell short of expectations. 2. Adapting to socio-economic emergencies Changes to the names or structure of certain ministries reflect current priorities. In the newly announced government, for example, there is a clear emphasis on social and economic issues, with portfolios specifically dedicated to fighting the high cost of living, urban development, and access to water and energy. The aim is to show the population that the government is listening and adapting to its everyday c...

English version  Some sentences reveal a whole vision of a country in just a few words. This one, reported by L'Union on Friday, October 9, 2026, comes from Michel Régis Onanga Ndiaye, President of the National Assembly: “We must build our country in light of the Head of State's pragmatism. Let us leave theory to the universities.” The timing only adds to the irony. This week, as every early October, the whole world is looking to Stockholm and Oslo, where researchers, economists and writers are being honored for work that, more often than not, began as… theory. We can try a charitable reading. Perhaps the President of the Assembly simply meant that it is time to act rather than debate endlessly, and that grand speeches are no substitute for roads, schools and hospitals. Many Gabonese share that call to action. But words carry meaning, especially from the head of an institution whose very mission is to reflect, deliberate and write the law. Setting “pragmatism” against “the theo...