Gabon’s transitional president launched a national discussion on Tuesday, seven months after ending the 55-year Bongo dynasty. The dialogue is expected to pave the way for elections next year.
General Brice Oligui Nguema, who was quickly inaugurated in during the August 30 coup, promised to return the oil-rich central African country to civilian control after a transition phase.
The international community has praised the actions taken thus far, and many Gabonese continue to see Oligui as a saviour.
Nonetheless, some criticize what they call a “dialogue between oneself” that prepares the groundwork for the general’s presidential run.
Calls for the dialogue to be postponed or reorganized have been heard from former opposition members who have not rallied behind the military rule, as well as the independent media.
The Inclusive National Dialogue, according to officials, will include all of the country’s “vital actors”.
However, critics object to the large number of participants from the military and other institutions—all 580 of whom were picked by Oligui.
“The criteria for participation must be reviewed,” stated Lionel Giovanni Boulingui of the opposition REAGIR party.
“They aren’t inclusive.”
Hope and scepticism
According to a list published on Wednesday, 104 of the 580 participants are from the military.
Another 199 are members of the transitional government and parliament.
Independent website GabonReview.com said this month that the military authorities could also count on a further 100 participants from local and regional entities set up since the coup.
In PK 10, a poor neighbourhood in the capital Libreville, residents were divided over the consultation.
“Our hope is that it changes something,” said Serge Zoghe Ename, 32, who is unemployed.
Retired policeman Firmin said it had been a long time coming. “Each will give their opinion. We’ve waited for that for a long time,” he said.
But 50-year-old Tristan Gelaz was sceptical.
“We wonder if it’s not going to draw a blank,” he said, adding: “The actors of the transition are the same ones who yesterday defiled the country.”
The coup took place moments after Ali Bongo was declared winner of a presidential election which the army and opposition declared fraudulent.
Bongo took office on the death of his father Omar, who had ruled with an iron fist for more than 41 years.
As well as branding the election result a fraud, the opposition and the military coup leaders accused Ali Bongo’s regime of widespread corruption and bad governance.
Run for president?
For the other dialogue participants, the 104 “legally recognised” parties — most of which support the general since the coup — put forward four people, one of whom was selected.
“It’s not respectful of the parties’ internal democracy,” Anges Kevin Nzigou of the Party for Change told AFP.
Civil society representatives, including employers’ organisations, unions, youth and pensioner groups as well as NGOs will make up the rest.
The military regime “is demonstrating its desire to control the debate from start to finish”, Nzigou complained.
“Organising a dialogue and choosing who comes is a bit like having defined what will be said,” said Guy Pambo Mihindou, a Libreville University researcher in political science.
The opposition also complains about a lack of information on how the consultation will be handled.
“The organisation of the IND is being done in total opacity,” Joachim Mbatchi Pambou from the Forum for the Defence of the Republic said.
Under the transition timetable, the Gabonese people were invited to submit suggestions to be presented to the national dialogue.
Minister for the Reform of Institutions Murielle Minkoue said that 38,000 complaints and proposals were received at offices or online.
Five days before the dialogue was due to begin, however, no summary of those proposals had been made public.
Detractors say resolutions from the national dialogue will not be binding, including on the future constitution which authorities say will be put to a referendum.
The opposition also fears the conference will not question Oligui being allowed to run for the presidency in 2025.
Although a post-coup charter barred all leading figures in transitional bodies from the race, it made an exception for the general.