Gabon opens national dialogue to return country to civilian rule

Gabon’s national dialogue began in the Central African country on Tuesday, aiming to pave the way for the restoration of constitutional order and an end to the 55-year-old Bongo dynasty.

Transitional President General Bliss Origi Nguema opened the dialogue, telling thousands of civilians and soldiers that Gabonese citizens were looking forward to what he called a major national dialogue on inclusion in the country.

At a ceremony at the Libreville Sports Center broadcast live on Gabonese state television, Nguema said he hoped the head of the dialogue, Catholic Archbishop Jean-Patrick Iba-ba, would come up with a road map that would define the transitional government. the term.

Nguema has ruled Gabon since the military overthrew President Ali Ben Bongo in a bloodless coup last August. Prior to this, the Bongo family had tightly ruled Gabon for more than 55 years.

Iba-Ba said the massive participation of politicians, members of civil society, youth leaders, traditional rulers, clergy and people with disabilities showed how much Gabonese citizens want better living conditions and the freedom to express themselves without fear of harassment .

Iba-Ba said the ongoing dialogue should heal the wounds inflicted on the Gabonese people by the Central African country’s former leaders, who were more interested in power than the people they led.

He said the dialogue should not be like previous meetings that gave Gabonese former leaders more power but failed to resolve the country’s economic, social and political problems.

Iba-Bah said participants in the dialogue will examine some 50,000 suggestions on how to make Gabon a better place to live.

Officials said the dialogue will provide recommendations on the political, economic and social organization of the post-transition Central African country.

In the preliminary timetable announced by the transitional government, General Nguema will be in power for 24 months until elections are held in August 2025.

But Gabon’s transitional government now says the dialogue will review the draft constitution, which will be approved in a referendum on a date chosen by Nguema. Afterwards, the government will hold elections to transfer power to civilian rulers.

Opposition and civil society groups said the general invited about 100 senior military officers and about 250 people loyal to the ousted Bongo regime because he wanted to extend his power.

They said Nguema worked with acting officials and former senior state officials while serving as commander of Gabon’s presidential guard.

Political analyst Romuald Assogo Obiang told Gabonese state television that Nguema should organize elections that would hand power to civilians, who would have a mandate from the people to decide whether an inclusive national dialogue is a priority.

Obiang, a member of Gabonese Civil Society, an alliance of concerned political groups in the central African country, said there were signs Nguema wanted to extend his term after dialogue, on the pretext that it would be carried out by loyal people. major national dialogue resolutions. to military rulers.

Obiang added that the dialogue might be meaningless if another leader takes power and has other preferences.

Nguema and his supporters say the dialogue will set the rules for future elections and will determine who can be a candidate in Gabon’s presidential election. Nguema said he would respect the resolutions.