Thank you Chima again for another comprehensive report and historical examination.
Would you expound a little regarding the controversial Ali Bongo election with in the context of Not being anti France or French interest... but then you state " at least for now". For what are you implying by saying, at least for now?
The recent Presidential Election in Gabon is widely believed to be fraudulent as most people did not vote for the highly incompetent Ali Bongo. Long before the election, ordinary Gabonese citizens were tired of having him around as their ruler.
The stroke of October 2018 that caused paralysis in one side of his body raised more alarm in Gabon, especially when he refused to resign and insisted on clinging on to power.
The military coup has not changed attitudes towards France in Gabon. Neither ordinary citizens or the new military regime have said or done anything that is opposed to France.
Nevertheless, I can see how things could easily change if France expresses undue hostility to the new military regime. For instance, official French government statement has condemned the coup and called for the restoration of the Bongo government. Military ties have also been temporarily suspended.
If France keeps up such rhetoric, then things MAY change down the road as most Gabonese don't want Bongo back. But if France quietly accepts the Gabonese military regime and build relations with it, then I see no reason why relations between the two nations won't continue the way it has always been.
The sort of anti-French resentment you see in Mali or Burkina Faso does not exist in the central african state of Gabon, which has a more advanced economy than either of these dirt-poor west african states.
When you are very poor like Mali or Burkina Faso, it is easy to be resentful of the foreign power lording it over your nation. Gabon isn't like that. People in Gabon just want Bongo replaced by a more capable administrator so that the economy would continue doing well.
When Omar Bongo died in 2009, Gabon was ranked 4th in Africa in terms of standard of living. Under his son, Ali Bongo, Gabon's ranking slid down to 7th in Africa.
The Gabonese just want a ruler capable for improving the economy. They are not aiming to bring down the neocolonial La Francafrique system, which has lost its suffocating power, after several decades of being progressively watered down by the late Omar Bongo, who wrenched a considerable level of independence from the French ruling elites by bribing them while he was alive and in charge of Gabon.
Thank you Chima again for another comprehensive report and historical examination.
Would you expound a little regarding the controversial Ali Bongo election with in the context of Not being anti France or French interest... but then you state " at least for now". For what are you implying by saying, at least for now?
The recent Presidential Election in Gabon is widely believed to be fraudulent as most people did not vote for the highly incompetent Ali Bongo. Long before the election, ordinary Gabonese citizens were tired of having him around as their ruler.
The stroke of October 2018 that caused paralysis in one side of his body raised more alarm in Gabon, especially when he refused to resign and insisted on clinging on to power.
The military coup has not changed attitudes towards France in Gabon. Neither ordinary citizens or the new military regime have said or done anything that is opposed to France.
Nevertheless, I can see how things could easily change if France expresses undue hostility to the new military regime. For instance, official French government statement has condemned the coup and called for the restoration of the Bongo government. Military ties have also been temporarily suspended.
If France keeps up such rhetoric, then things MAY change down the road as most Gabonese don't want Bongo back. But if France quietly accepts the Gabonese military regime and build relations with it, then I see no reason why relations between the two nations won't continue the way it has always been.
The sort of anti-French resentment you see in Mali or Burkina Faso does not exist in the central african state of Gabon, which has a more advanced economy than either of these dirt-poor west african states.
When you are very poor like Mali or Burkina Faso, it is easy to be resentful of the foreign power lording it over your nation. Gabon isn't like that. People in Gabon just want Bongo replaced by a more capable administrator so that the economy would continue doing well.
When Omar Bongo died in 2009, Gabon was ranked 4th in Africa in terms of standard of living. Under his son, Ali Bongo, Gabon's ranking slid down to 7th in Africa.
The Gabonese just want a ruler capable for improving the economy. They are not aiming to bring down the neocolonial La Francafrique system, which has lost its suffocating power, after several decades of being progressively watered down by the late Omar Bongo, who wrenched a considerable level of independence from the French ruling elites by bribing them while he was alive and in charge of Gabon.
Excellent analysis once again. Thanks for this.