Gabon breaks the bonds

Another African country is getting rid of the French neo-colonial yoke

Last week Africa captured the attention of the whole world again. The main newsmaker of the day was the Gabonese military, who ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba from power after an election in which he allegedly won with a result of 64 percent of the vote. The leader of the putschists, General of the Republican Guard Bris Clothaire Oligui Nguema, who is going to lead the country during the transitional period, has been declared the new Head of State.

August 30th. Demonstration in support of the military

The coup in Gabon is another nail in the coffin of French influence on the African continent. The Bongo dynasty has ruled the country since 1967. Its founder was the former captain of the colonial Air Force El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba. Until 2009, he unchangingly led the country, until, due to a serious illness, he handed over the reins of government to his son, whom the military overthrew on August 30th. 
Of course, elections were held in the country, however, despite numerous accusations of corruption, representatives of the Bongo family invariably won them.
The basis of Gabon’s foreign policy all this time was a clearly pro-French course. Gabon was the ‘fuel’ for France: all stocks of uranium ores are under the control of French industrialists. In addition, the country is famous for its deposits of manganese, iron, oil, natural gas and, importantly, has access to the sea and a developed system of large ports that allow large ocean-going vessels to be received.
Despite the natural wealth and good location, Gabon can not be called a country of the rich. On the one hand, against the background of other powers in the region, the republic feels good, having one of the highest per capita GDP indicators on the continent, on the other hand, more than 40 percent of Gabonese still live below the poverty line, and youth unemployment is almost 37 percent. 
The residents of Libreville greeted the columns of pickup trucks of the Republican Guard with applause and dances for a reason: there is hope in people to overcome poverty and become a truly democratic state.

Ali Bongo Ondimba at the polling station

The international reaction to the events in Gabon has so far been restrained. The Foreign Ministry of Russia, Italy and France recommended that citizens not visit Gabon. According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wengbin, China ‘calls on all parties to the conflict to take into account the interests of the people of the country first of all, resolving the contradictions that have arisen through dialogue and consultations’. In Washington, surprisingly, they also cautiously ‘expressed concern’.
The fall of Bongo-Ondimba caused particular anger in France. Government spokesman Olivier Veran said that Paris condemns the rebellion and considers it necessary ‘to recognise the results of the elections as soon as they are approved’.
The reaction of France demonstrates the confusion and fatigue of the Elysee Palace from the second painful blow in a month to the remnants of French prestige and economy.


So far, the brave guys of General Oligui-Nguema have not demanded, following the example of their colleagues from Niger, the expulsion of the ambassador and the liquidation of the military base, but things are moving towards this: the French mining company Eramet, without waiting for the decision of the new authorities, has stopped work and hastily packs its bags.
The most offensive thing for Macron is the fact that he does not have a single chance to fix something. He can only calculate the losses and look for new sources of uranium for his nuclear power plants and submarines.

By Anton Popov

Photos by REUTERS