Gbaon: the national day parade dominated by the presence of Ali Bongo - RFI

By RFIPalled on 17-08-2019Modified on 17-08-2019 at 18:43

Gabon celebrated, on Saturday, August 17, the national holiday marking the 59th anniversary of independence with, as a highlight in the morning, official ceremonies and a military parade in the presence of President Ali Bongo. This is one of the rare public appearances of President Bongo, ten months after the stroke he suffered in Saudi Arabia.

The parade was held late in the morning and was set clockwise.

Ali Bongo, suit and tie, his face barred by black glasses, arrived standing on his command-car. Leaning on a cane, he descended very slowly and with great caution, under the watchful eye of his guard.

Dragging his right foot, Ali Bongo stopped to listen to the national anthem. He then climbed one by one the steps of the official platform where he was applauded by the public. Some confessed to seeing him for the first time since his stroke on October 24, 2018.

Ali Bongo, sitting next to his wife Sylvia, admired the passage in front of the tribune of the units of his army. At no time did he rise, as before.

" We are happy to have seen it, it is not a look-alike. He is at the helm of our country, "Sylvie Kotha, a member of the ruling party, said at the end of the ceremony. Louis Gaston Mayila, the only opponent present, refused to speak.

It must be said that the Republican Guard has seriously protected the image of the head of state. She chose the moments to allow independent cameras to film the President of the Republic.

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