Gabon/A staged transition: Raymond Ndong Sima takes over as Prime Minister
It’s hardly surprising that things are moving at breakneck speed after the pretence coup d’état of 30 August in Gabon
After the establishment of a new constitutional court, the head of government has just been appointed.
His name had already been mentioned by some, but the former independent candidate in the last presidential election has been chosen by General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema to head the government of this famous Transition.
Raymond Ndong Sima was Prime Minister under Ali Bongo from 2012 to 2014, before stepping down from power.
He ran against the deposed former president in the 2016 presidential elections, and then in the 26 August poll, where he was initially a candidate, before withdrawing in favour of Albert Ondo Ossa, the sole candidate of the Alternance 2023 coalition.
If things are happening in Gabon like roulette, it’s because General Oligui Nguema met the French ambassador a few hours after the coup d’état to guarantee France’s interests.
This shows France’s notorious hypocrisy in denouncing coups d’état. If their interests are guaranteed, then the coup d’état is no longer anti-democratic.
Today in Gabon, 80% of companies in all categories belong to the French. Ali Bongo’s fault lies in the fact that he turned his back on France by joining the Commonwealth.
A move that puts French interests in a very uncomfortable zone, and that’s unforgivable.
Ali Bongo must consider himself very lucky, because France has assassinated presidents in Africa for things less serious than this.
With the appointment of Raymond Ndong Sima as Prime Minister, under instructions from France, the names of the other members of the transitional government should not be long in coming.
Iann OBIANG
