Civilians, army commanders, and representatives of political parties are expected to participate in the dialogue (Reuters)

On March 26, the head of the ruling military junta in Gabon issued the second decree organizing the national dialogue, in which all actors in the state are expected to participate.

The dialogue, which will start on April 2, comes amid major crises in Gabon after the overthrow of President Ali Bongo in September 2023.

Gabon enters the coup club

Gabon is one of the countries in Africa known for its political stability. The relationship with coups was severed after the first military intervention carried out by the army in 1964 against the founding president, Leon Emba.

France intervened at that time and restored the civilian president to his position, and presidential elections were organized in 1967, in which Emba succeeded, regaining his power and extending his influence on the political scene.

However, the president's sudden death in the same year provided the opportunity for the second president in the country's history, Omar Bongo Ondimba, who was serving as vice president, to take over the rule of the country in March 1968.

The late Gabonese President Omar Bongo (right) during a meeting in the Elysee with the late French President Jacques Chirac (Reuters)

Bongo was close to France and one of its loyal allies on the African continent. During his 42-year rule, it was able to extend its political and economic influence, and its registered companies in the country in 2022 reached 110 companies.

Although Omar Bongo was a strong ally of France, his intellectual path witnessed profound transformations as he converted to Islam in 1973 and joined his country to the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and Libreville became a member of many Islamic bodies such as the Islamic Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ISESCO) and other Islamic clubs and gatherings.

After the death of Omar Bongo, his son, Ali Bongo, assumed the presidency in 2009, until he was overthrown by his guard commander, General Brice Olighi Nguema, on August 30, 2023.

With the Nguema coup, Gabon entered the club of coup states and became under the guardianship of military councils that control political and economic life in a number of countries on the African continent. The new leader also ended the rule of the Bongo family, which lasted for 5 decades.

Gabon's coup came in complex regional circumstances full of coups and power and influence struggles, as Africa, by virtue of its great wealth, has become a center of attraction for many countries searching for economic expansion, political influence, and military expansion.

The repercussions of the coup on the economy

According to the British Encyclopedia, Gabon is the fifth richest country in Africa, and the first in the world in terms of production of manganese. It also has multiple and diverse mines, including uranium, diamonds and gold, and has huge reserves of high-quality iron ore.

As for oil, it constitutes its most important wealth, representing 70% of its exports, as it produces 210,000 barrels per day. It is a permanent member of OPEC, from which it withdrew in 1994 and returned to it in 2016.

But the August coup was a major blow to the reputation of Gabon, which held the presidency of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECAS) and the permanent headquarters of its commission.

The group suspended Gabon's membership, considered the military junta to lack legitimacy, and temporarily moved the Commission's headquarters from Libreville to Equatorial Guinea.

The coup also raised concerns among international partners, especially Paris, which has many companies operating in the country and provides job opportunities for about 14,000 citizens. French companies produce sales estimated at 3.23 billion euros annually, and are also responsible for marketing oil, gold, and iron.

After the coup, the French mining company Eramit suspended its activities due to fears of the repercussions of the coup. It is one of the largest companies working in exploiting local resources and employs about 8,000 Gabonese citizens.

And to maintain operating companies that care about political stability to continue their large investments; It is important that the country emerges from the crisis caused by the military change in the hierarchy of power.

The legacy of corruption

Although the population of Gabon has not reached 3 million people, in a country rich in many resources, a third of the population lives in a state of serious poverty, and the situation has reached the point that the International Monetary Fund has warned the government against excessive spending outside budget items.

The serious matter is that, according to multiple studies, the country’s oil will be consumed by 2025, and it has declined remarkably in the last two decades, as production declined from 370,000 barrels per day in 1997 to 180,000 in 2022.

During its course of rule, which exceeded 50 years, the Bongo Bongo family was accused of wasteful spending and was accused of corruption by international organizations. According to French reports, the family owns a lot of real estate in France and has assets in the name of companies linked to the former president’s close circle.

Bongo Sr. left behind 53 children, most notably his son Ali, who inherited power after him. The French judiciary accused him of owning 33 houses in Paris, as a result of an investigation into a lawsuit filed against him by Transparency International.

The Bongo family is not the only one facing charges of embezzlement of funds and corruption, as many officials who participated in the management of public affairs were accused.

According to Gabonese reports, General Nguema, head of the ruling military junta, is considered one of the figures known for corruption and exploitation of power for private benefit. While working as a military escort for President Omar Bongo, he acquired enormous wealth, and American reports accused him of owning real estate on the outskirts of the American state of Maryland, which he bought in cash.

He is also accused of being linked to drug smuggling networks and contraband trade in many countries, especially South America.

On the cusp of national dialogue

In light of these miserable conditions, and after the military council removed the civilian government, it dissolved the elected legislative institution (the Senate and Parliament) and appointed another by legal order, and began to militarize the country and eliminate aspects of political and civil life.

Following pressure from partners and the international community, he amended the temporary legal order according to which the constitution was suspended, and he stepped down from the Ministries of Defense and Security and appointed two ministers to them after he had kept them for himself, in addition to the position of President of the Military Council and Head of State.

In the aforementioned amendment, he announced that he would organize a comprehensive national dialogue that would include all living forces in Gabon, during which the transitional period would be determined, which would end with the handover of power to civilians.

This March, a decree was published in the Official Gazette containing a list of names of participants in the dialogue, which will be held between 2 and 30 April.

The dialogue is not limited to civilians only, but 64 commanders from the defense and security forces will participate, and the 104 representatives of political parties have been approved in advance by the ruling general.

According to the published document, representatives of military and civilian retirees, union leaders, civil society, as well as the disabled, people with special needs, and the dwarf community will participate in the dialogue.

The opposition in Gabon is looking forward to holding presidential elections and returning to civilian life in 2025 (Reuters)

The opposition has called for the formation of a founding committee to draft the new constitution, which is expected to be an extension of the 1991 constitution. It is also looking forward to holding presidential elections and returning to civilian life within 2025.

Politicians are watching the military council's course with caution, as the Transitional Constitutional Charter did not stipulate a specific period for the coup plotters, although the military council spokesman said he expected 2025 to be the initial date for holding constitutional elections.

The announcement issued by the army did not include a clause preventing the new leader from running for office and competing with politicians to rule the country.

The mission of the General Rapporteur of the Dialogue is assumed by the Minister of Institutional Reform, Muriel Minku Mintsa.

In recent statements she made to the local press, Mintsa said, “The goal of the dialogue is to prepare for the post-transitional period, determine how long the transitional period will last, and propose the form of political, economic, and social organization of the nation.”

A study by Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies indicates that regardless of the outcome of the Gabon coup, what is certain is the consolidation of the phenomenon of geopolitical re-engineering of the region through a new formulation of regional and international alliances.

Source: Al Jazeera + websites