Gabon: national dialogue officially opens in Libreville
The national dialogue kicked off this Tuesday, April 2. Several thousand people gathered at the Libreville Sports Palace for the opening ceremony.
President Brice Oligui Nguema surrounded by the Archbishop of Libreville Jean Patrick Iba (D) and the Central African President Faustin-Archange Touadéra (L) during the opening ceremony of the national dialogue in Librevillle in 2024. AFP - WILFRIED MBINAH
By: RFI Follow
Advertisement
Read more
The Sports Palace was packed. On the first line, Clotaire Oligui Nguema, the president of the Gabonese Transition, and the star guest of the ceremony, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, the Central African president. President Touadéra's facilitation mission enabled the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to lift its sanctions against Gabon.
At his side, the Archbishop of Libreville, Monseigneur Jean Patrick Iba-Ba, who will lead the dialogue until April 30. Oligui Nguema installed him in his command chair and gave him the report of the 38,000 contributions from the Gabonese, reports our correspondent in Libreville,
Yves-Laurent Goma
.
Several moments of joy marked the ceremony. Oligui Nguema and all the generals who took power with him on August 30, 2023, took to the stage several times to dance with the artists, notably the dean Pierre Claver Akendengué.
Some leading figures in Gabonese politics excluded from the dialogue were still invited to the opening ceremony. In his speech, General Oligui Nguema promised to transform the recommendations of the dialogue into laws.
This dialogue is a primordial moment. We will be able to speak with frankness and sincerity. The conclusions will be translated into text. Then submitted to a referendum which will make it possible to decide on the proposal for a new Constitution.
00:58
General Brice Oligui Nguema, president of the transition of Gabon
Sébastien Németh
The work really starts this Wednesday and will initially focus on technical aspects, with a day of negotiations between the office in charge of the organization and the participants. The texts governing the internal regulations, the terms of reference and the working method will be discussed. Certainly technical elements but nevertheless crucial, since they will guide the national dialogue for a month. It will also be an opportunity to begin seeking the consensus that should prevail during these meetings.
The day will be all the more interesting as in recent times, certain groups have threatened to boycott the dialogue if their demands were not listened to. “
There are still misunderstandings between political actors and us. There are still unhappy people
,” said a member of the office. All participants will therefore meet in plenary. At the last minute, their number increased to 600, with the addition of forgotten political parties, as well as students and teachers from Omar Bongo University.
The day will also be used to distribute the members of the various commissions. Everyone was able to register in advance in the group of their choice. However, an imbalance is already being felt. “
Many want to be in groups devoted to politics. The economy and social issues are of less interest. We would like this vision to change
,” confides an organizer. In any case, if the commissions are unbalanced, the organizers reserve the right to change the distribution of places.
Read alsoGabon: the national dialogue officially opens in Libreville
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your inbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
Share :
Continue reading on the same themes:
Faustin-Archange Touadéra
Brice Oligui Nguema
Gabon