Gabon: showdown between government and civil society over the entry into force of the health pass

A member of the healthcare staff takes a sample during a test to detect Covid-19 in a patient in Libreville.

(Photo illustration) AFP - STEEVE JORDAN

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

In Gabon, after the Dead City Day of December 15, the standoff continues between the government and civil society over the application of the health pass.

A government decree was to make this pass compulsory as of December 15, but civil society activists had appealed to the Constitutional Court to obtain its annulment.

Friday, December 24, the Court annulled the order of the government " 

".

Despite the decision of the Constitutional Court, the government issued another decree identical to the first.

Hence the anger of civil society.  

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It was on social networks that the Gabonese discovered the decision of the Constitutional Court early Friday evening.

The government decree making the health pass compulsory for access to public places is canceled.

Also canceled the payment of the PCR test currently free and very quickly many Internet users rejoiced.

Finally, the joy of these Gabonese was of very short duration.

4 hours later, the Interior Ministry's communications adviser appeared on national television to read a statement in which the government takes note of the decision of the Constitutional Court, but at the same time announces that the government took a new decree.

This includes exactly the same measures contained in the previous text retested by the Constitutional Court.  

Anger of the actors of civil society, those who had seized the Constitutional Court.

They accuse the government of provocation.

A source close to the Presidency of the Republic explains to RFI that the Constitutional Court has never questioned the substance of the decree, but rather the form.

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• Gabon

• Coronavirus