"LE GABON ENERVANT" OR "ANNOYING GABON"

English version The fundamental principle and the ultimate test of any true rule of law is that justice is not a matter of personal affinity or popularity, but a matter of inalienable principles. Defending a political opponent’s right to a fair trial is undoubtedly the most difficult, but most vital, requirement for the moral and institutional health of a nation. In the context of an atmosphere of political settling of accounts, the temptation of a certain public opinion is often to demand expeditious justice, especially for the leading figures of a contested system such as that of Ali Bongo. However, if justice becomes selective or bends to popular vindication, it ceases to be justice to become a simple instrument of purge or revenge. To accept that fundamental rights are violated on the pretext that the accused belongs to the opposite camp is to legitimize a jurisprudence of arbitrariness that can turn against any citizen tomorrow. If we do not rise as a citizen to demand impartialit...

English version One of the most complex and tragic phenomena of Gabonese political sociology is the refusal of Gabonese to believe in the sincerity of the republican commitments of those who rise up against the regime. The cases of André Mba Obama (AMO) and Jean Ping perfectly illustrate this dynamic: initial disbelief, followed by popular validation acquired only in blood, destruction or sacrifice. If Gabonese public opinion seems to show amnesia or refuse to learn from history, it is not for lack of lucidity. It is actually the result of profound psychological and political mechanisms, forged by decades of specific governance; which make this cycle of suspicion repeated tirelessly. For more than half a century, the Gabonese political system was structured around the ability of power to buy back or reintegrate its opponents. The country’s political history is full of dissident figures who, after raising popular hopes, ended up returning to power or accepting compromises in exchange fo...

English version This press release from Ensemble pour le Gabon, published today, effectively sheds new light and confirms the arrest of Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze yesterday, April 15. In view of the arguments put forward in this document, concerns about freedom of expression and the trajectory of civic space in Gabon are quite well-founded. The fact of exhuming a financial dispute that is nearly twenty years old (2008) and imputing individual responsibility on a political actor for acts that are supposed to fall under the obligations of the State (the Public Treasury) suggests a profound asymmetry. The use of administrative and judicial levers to target adversaries degrades the very neutrality and effectiveness of public institutions. The arrest by the security forces of a major opposition figure, also a former head of government, goes beyond the individual case. It is a coercive signal sent to the entire social body, independent analysts and civil society: political contradiction or cr...

English version When a political actor, whatever they are, is deprived of liberty solely because of his positions, this is obviously a crime of opinion. If Alain Claude Bilié By Nzé was indeed arrested, this act would undeniably mark a serious institutional decline. Political history shows that a country that really wants to move forward has a vital need for its intellectuals, analysts and discordant voices to enlighten the public debate. The criminalization of political thought and debate not only weakens the rule of law, but also signals a dangerous closure of civic space. It is true that the political climate in Gabon is unfortunately often too resistant to constructive criticism. The substantive debates on governance or structural reforms quickly generate tensions, sometimes pushing the state apparatus toward repression rather than dialogue. We are waiting for the confirmation of this arrest to say more. Version française   Lorsqu’un acteur politique, quel qu'il soit, vient à ê...