Highlights: Tensions within the Gabonese Bar Association are even beginning to make waves abroad. Raymond Obame Sima was elected new president at the end of the general assembly of the order. Some opposed his election, believing that he did not have enough seniority. An appeal was lodged with the Council of State to annul the proceedings. The International Conference of Bar Associations (IBC) has angered the new president. The French National Bar Council also supported the new President of the Bar.

In Gabon, lawyers are crossed by a deep fracture. A crisis appeared on January 6, when Me Raymond Obame Sima was elected new president at the end of the general assembly of the order....

Gabon: tension among lawyers and fear of a split in the bar

Libreville Courthouse (September 2016). © Sébastien Nemeth / RFI

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

In Gabon, lawyers are crossed by a deep fracture. A crisis appeared on January 6, when Raymond Obame Sima was elected new president at the end of the general assembly of the order. Some opposed his election, believing that he did not have enough seniority. An appeal was lodged with the Council of State to annul the proceedings.

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Pending the decision of the Council of State, the press revealed exchanges on a project of split within the bar. A lawyer has been sanctioned and tensions within the Gabonese Bar Association are even beginning to make waves abroad.

Seen as one of the leaders of the slingshot, Master Justin Taty was sentenced to six months of suspension by the council of the order. His proposed split has angered the International Conference of Bar Associations (IBC), which brings together 47 organizations around the world.

According to Bernard Vatier, Secretary General of the IPC, any division is inconceivable and would be harmful: "The function of the bar is a function of self-regulation. The Law Society sets out ethical rules. When you have a split in the bar, you have a second bar that will impose different rules. If lawyers can do anything while being protected by their bar, we are directly undermining justice. These are attempts by lawyers who cannot stand the rules. That's why we're very firm. »

Mr. Taty has appealed and continues to practice, pending a judgment. The lawyer believes that the split was one scenario among others, discussed with colleagues. He therefore contests his sanction: "It is unfair and inappropriate. The lawyers had highlighted a number of breaches of ethical rules and there were several proposals that were made. If the Council of State adopts a decision that is favourable to us, I think it would be good if we considered a split. But there was no act of split on my part. These were just simple exchanges and I told them that they could not judge intentions. »

This project would have destroyed the bar. This mutiny is damaging the profession, our image and our stability," said the President of the Bar, Raymond Obame Sima.

We are now waiting for the Council of State to decide. After a hearing on Wednesday, April 12, the case was adjourned to April 21.

The French National Bar Council also supported the new Gabonese President of the Bar, believing that a split could call into question self-regulation, the unity of ethics and the independence of lawyers.

Gabon: tension among lawyers and fear of a split in the bar

Gabon: tension among lawyers and fear of a split in the bar

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