Gabon Coup ends 56-year Bongo rule, and hopefully French exploitation

In the early hours of today August 30, 2023, the world woke up to the news of a coup in Gabon, effectively ending the 56-year reign of the Bongo family. This seismic political shift is not merely the result of an overnight decision; rather, it is a culmination of years of election irregularities, corruption, and deep-rooted public discontent with the ruling regime. The Coup lays bare a long history of misused mineral wealth, including oil and timber, by the Bongo family, with the French authorities playing a significant role in perpetuating their rule, even as the common Gabonese citizens endured the adverse consequences.

Oil and Timber exploitatively misused

Gabon, a former French colony situated on the west coast of Central Africa is blessed with an abundance of rich natural resources, most notably oil and timber. These resources, while holding immense potential for economic growth and development, have been systematically misappropriated by the ruling Bongo family for decades. The coup, announced on national television this morning, marks a watershed moment in the nation’s history, driven by mounting frustration over the relentless exploitation of these resources and their proceeds.

Oil, a global commodity that fuels economies and geopolitics, has been both a blessing and a curse for Gabon. The nation’s vast oil reserves presented an opportunity for transformational economic progress, but these dreams were dashed as corruption and embezzlement became the norm within the Bongo regime. The revenues that should have been directed toward infrastructural development, social welfare, and public services were instead siphoned off into private coffers, lining the pockets of the ruling family and their cronies. The Gabonese population, meanwhile, witnessed the stark contrast between their resource-rich country and their own impoverished lives.

The timber industry, too, fell victim to the Bongo family’s voracious appetite for personal enrichment. Gabon’s lush rainforests house a diverse range of valuable timber species, attracting international demand. However, under the Bongo regime, illegal logging and unsustainable deforestation practices were rampant, leading to environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity. The profits from this lucrative trade were, once again, diverted away from the people’s welfare, contributing to the ever-widening gap between the elite and the ordinary citizens.

France’s complicity in perpetuating Bogo Family Rule

While the mismanagement of resources was a central grievance of the Gabonese people, the role of the French authorities in propping up the Bongo family’s rule cannot be overlooked. The historical ties between Gabon and France date back to colonial times, and even after gaining independence, Gabon remained intricately linked to its former colonizer. This relationship, while potentially beneficial, took a detrimental turn as it became apparent that France was prioritizing stability and its own interests over the well-being of the Gabonese population.

Ali Bongo, who succeeded his father Omar Bongo as the head of the nation, was a key figure in maintaining this parasitic relationship with France. Despite the growing discontent and allegations of election irregularities, the French authorities have always turned a blind eye, effectively endorsing the Bongo regime’s grip on power. This stance, ostensibly to protect French economic interests, has since left the Gabonese people impoverished, even as French companies get national concessions and keep looting Gabon Timber and Oil.

Another sham election to legitimize Bongo family rule

This Gabon Coup is therefore an overdue culmination of these factors. The disputed presidential election, marked by allegations of vote rigging and manipulation, is clearly now the final straw that ignited public outrage, and military intervention. The Gabonese Electoral Commission’s announcement of Ali Bongo’s victory with a seemingly implausible 64.27% of the vote triggered mass protests and a sense of injustice that has resonated deeply with the people for the last 20 years.

Now, with the coup still unfolding, there is still no concrete information about the coup leadership and no reports of the whereabouts of Ali Bongo. But there are reports of heavy gunfire in the capital, and the country’s borders have been closed. What comes next, is difficult to know, but at least we now know that the coup leaders have canceled the disputed elections.

Nigr, and now Gabon!

The coup in Gabon holds significance beyond the nation’s borders. It mirrors a trend observed in other former French colonies in Africa, where longstanding rulers and dynasties are being challenged by an increasingly disillusioned population. The case of Gabon is particularly noteworthy due to its vast natural resources and the stark contrast between the elite’s opulent lifestyles and the majority’s enduring poverty.

Generally, Gabon Coup, 2023 is not an isolated incident but the culmination of decades of exploitation, corruption, and manipulation by the ruling Bongo family. The misused mineral wealth, including oil and timber, became emblematic of the regime’s disregard for the welfare of the Gabonese people. The French authorities’ complicity in propping up this rule for the sake of serving its exploitative interests in the country is also a concern. And we now await how the French authorities will respond, following their ongoing standoff with the military leadership in Niger, which also overthrew a president who like the Bongos, served French interest.