2023-09-03 22:56:23
For years, they have been accused by NGOs of plundering the country and lavish spending by acquiring properties abroad, particularly in France. Luxury cars, mansions in the heart of Paris, hyper-stocked bank accounts… While their dynasty has fallen or almost, we discover in the honor of the day the full extent of the kleptocracy of the Bongo dynasty, in a country where many pull the devil by the tail.
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How to understand that in the first hours of the fall of the regime, we want to evaporate with so much money? Where does all this money come from when the overwhelming majority of Gabonese are in poverty. Justice will have time to give explanations no doubt.
Of course, these suitcases, filled with banknotes, are only the tip of the iceberg. When the bank accounts and the assets stashed abroad by the whole dynasty and the whole system will be peeled, we will have more.
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The story of the Bongos is that of a family that has reigned over Gabon for nearly 6 decades from father to son (the grandson was waiting.). Father Omar Bongo seized power in the 1960s and served over 40 years before his death. Without elections, son Ali inherited power and 2009 without asking the opinion of the Gabonese. This was followed by sham elections since it is often stolen elements that give Ali Bongo the winner.
Struck by a stroke in recent years, and physically and intellectually diminished, Ali Bongo does not have all his cognitive faculties to lead the country. But he always remained in power by the good care of the clan and the family to continue the looting of the country. Following the last elections which took place a few weeks ago without observers, Ali Bongo was declared the winner as usual.
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But this time, the soldiers, headed by General Brice Oligui Nguema, who has served the Bongos from father to son for twenty years, have decided to stop the show: Ali Bongo is under house arrest. In a pathetic see distressing video, he calls for help in English “Make some noise, make some noise, really make some noise. I don’t know what’s going on. The people here kidnapped me, my wife and my son separately”.
This message in English suggests that it is in all likelihood aimed primarily at the Commonwealth since its relations with France have deteriorated in recent years. And as if to sulk and impress France, he joined the Commonwealth by adopting English as the official language of Gabon. If it’s not a snub, he can’t leave the Francophonie and go see the competition (Commonwealth) while Gabon is very French-speaking, even Francophile. We cannot say that it pleased Paris.
Moreover, we have not seen France fall on Gabon as it did and still does for Niger after the putsch. In Ali Bongo’s call for help message, we could see how he is physically diminished, apparently often well hidden in his public appearances.
Sylvia Bongo, the first lady is also arrested as well as the son Nourredin Bongo Valentin whose gossips say he was being prepared to succeed the father, is also arrested with his staff. They are the ones who hold the billions they were trying to secure.
Now, it remains to be seen how far Gabon will change, because if a family, the klpetocratic dynasty has fallen, the system is not yet and will not be so soon.
The proof Brice Oligui Nguema, the cousin is in charge. And we know that he had fallen out for a decade with part of the clan and had even been sent away from the country by Ali Bongo to go and serve in Gabon’s diplomatic missions in Morocco and Senegal as an attaché, before being recalled to the country to be in the presidential guard and take the lead.
Analysts say he was constantly humiliated by the wife and son of Ali Bongo, on his return, but that he would be close to Pascaline Bongo, the daughter of Omar Bongo. For a long time, Ali Bongo and Pascaline argued, we remember, the management of the country. General Nguema would be rather close to Pascaline. Which makes the opponent Albert Ondo Ossa say that the coup is sponsored by Pascaline Bongo. So this coup is probably a kind of revenge even if there was a very good pretext: election theft combined with Ali Bongo’s state of health.
Many Gabonese were jubilant that they got rid of this dynasty but at the same time, they know that they must remain vigilant, because it is the men of the system who are always there. Will the Transition General make the break and leave the country to the civilians? Will he organize the country so that the enormous wealth benefits all Gabonese? Nothing is less sure.
In any case, this is only a small sequence in the saga of this oh so romantic family.
Frédéric ATAYODI
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