<
https://theconversation.com/gabon-post-coup-dialogue-has-mapped-out-path-to-democracy-now-military-leaders-must-act-229400>
"At the end of April 2024, a long and peaceful process of national dialogue in
Gabon between the military junta, presided over by coup leader General Brice
Oligui Nguema, and civil society, represented by 580 civilians, came to an end.
The national dialogue followed an August 2023 coup that removed Ali Bongo
Ondimba from office and ended the Bongo dynasty’s 56-year hold on power in
Gabon.
General Nguema, the coup leader, established a transitional government and the
dialogue to chart a path to democratic rule.
At the end of the dialogue, he received a report containing nearly a thousand
proposals.
Gabon has now entered a period where promises must give way to execution.
Agenda setting must be replaced by policy implementation. Action must take the
place of words.
For now, the coup leader enjoys the status of a hero. There was no serious
opposition to his announcement of a two-year transition.
I wrote my doctoral dissertation on the rentier state in Gabon. An oil-rentier
state is a country highly dependent on oil exports as a percentage of GDP, or
exports, or government revenues. In 2021 the oil sector accounted for 80% of
exports, 45% of GDP, and 60% of Gabon’s fiscal revenue.
Since then I have published several works on the small, oil-rich central
African republic, including the third and fourth editions of the
Historical
Dictionary of Gabon.
While there is much to be praised in the man who overthrew the Bongo dynasty,
unless Nguema manages to either hand over power to a civilian, generate
significant economic growth or nationalise the economy for the benefit of the
Gabonese, he risks becoming the country’s third authoritarian ruler."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
