Gabon: Minister de l’Eau et de l’Energie – Communique de Presse (16.02.2018)

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VII Session Extraordinaire du CEEAC – Communique Finale du Conseil des Ministres (29.04.2017)

Opinion: Polarization will be the key protocol to follow in 2017!

No matter if it is local politics, if it international or trade, the most important backbone to policies in the next year will be polarization. That is not Polar Bears dancing on the dwindling ice, if so the U.S. TV station would have better ratings. No, this is the importance of local and national industries, while stressing ignorance towards immigration and imports to add more GDP value and also stop inflation. A balance that is hard to carry as the trust in local currency and local production doesn’t change overnight. That has to happen with steady policies and ability to trade products and create market for the ones that we’re in the past produced far away.

“Definition of polarization

1:  the action of polarizing or state of being or becoming polarized: as

a (1) :  the action or process of affecting radiation and especially light so that the vibrations of the wave assume a definite form (2) :  the state of radiation affected by this process

b :  an increase in the resistance of an electrolytic cell often caused by the deposition of gas on one or both electrodes” (…) “2 a :  division into two opposites b :  concentration about opposing extremes of groups or interests formerly ranged on a continuum” (Merriam-Webster – Polarization, link: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polarization).

We are dividing ourselves while the world is into more conflicts that need assistance and securities to secure peace. There internal conflicts in Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria. Where the conflict is bloody, where people are detained for the political affiliation, where innocent dies in the streets and where guns are imported to silence the ones who is not succumbing to the regimes who hold power.

We are living in a time where opposition victors doesn’t get into power, because the leaders of old are not allowing and keeping power by the gun, are using the police force and army to monitor the opposition and even rigs the election to secure the “validation” of their rule. This has happen in many Republics and Nations this year and proves that progress of governance and accountability is dying, like innocence and justice is impartial and only for the elites. The rest of us just have to be lucky to see just systems and laws for the common folk.

Like Adama Barrow is the President-Elect in Gambia, Jean Ping should have become the President in Gabon, Dr. Kizza Besigye in Uganda and Moise Katumbi should have risen to power in DRC if there we’re any justice and transition of Power in the Republic. But the big-man and long ruling Presidents of these nations doesn’t give-in or leave office. They continue to stay without any fear or without any mercy as the monarchs they acts of. Instead keep polarising the political elites and societies with paying the elites and silencing the ones who stand in their path. Also, by forging alliances with nations to make sure justice doesn’t prevail in their path.

While these tragedies are appearing in front of our eyes in our times, the borders and the helping hands are not appearing, the funds and allocations of necessary funds to the refugee camps, the direct food aid and agents of humanitarian actions are not sufficient. The reality of these missing steps should boggle our mind and should freeze our hearts out, as the news of burning convoys into Aleppo, lack of food into refugee camps in Adjumani in Uganda and the lacking rations of food in refugee camps in Tanzania. These should all be a reminder of the fate we have put our world in. The steps of lost grace and mercy on the weakest of humanity, where hospitals and humanitarians are put in the lines of bullets and grenades in between the battlefield as the soldiers fight for keeping merciless tyrants to stay in power.

While the superpowers are claiming the fight for justice, the innocent dies, the towns are battlefields and turns into dust, the graves are not cleared and the lives are lost in vain. This while UN cannot impose arms-embargoes or create a possible cease-fire to get civilians into safety, this while Italian and Greece authorities are working and trying to find ways to impose fleeing civilians on Turkey, because the rich European states fears that fleeing civilians could be terrorists. The humanity and just behaviour is dying while the states are flogging their responsibility to the ones in need.

We can question ourselves if this is right, if we can sleep knowing the indebtedness we have in riches. In the time of peace in our states, where we have possible houses and shelter for the ones fleeing possible genocides and acts against humanity; Europe impose stricter rules on immigration and Brexit proves the fear of Polish and other ethnic groups as they want to secure their borders as key argument to stop being an EU Member State.

We can wonder why the world has come to this that polarization of between ourselves the ones who see the innocent die and the ones who want to keep their own by any means. That the own nationals are going against each other and seeing it as only fit, instead of thinking for instance for a hot minute, what if the war came to our shores and to our homes, wouldn’t we flee? Wouldn’t we do what we could to leave our wealth, our riches to save our own?

Why shouldn’t the Syrians and all other who are in conflicts leave grenades, tanks and bombs, would we live on the streets with daily shooting and killing if we had an option to flee? Would we stay and risk everyday our lives to get a loaf of bread? I doubt that. We would travel to safety and to places where we could resettle and rehash the future of ourselves and our kids. If not we would be risking ourselves and the future of our kin. That is because it’s natural.

Still, the Europeans and citizens of fellow states don’t see it this way with fear-mongering politics and internal polarization of demagoguery, which is out of proportion. This will continue as these conflicts leads to more hurt and damage of lives, where more shelter and more merciless killings to stay in power, where more rigging of elections and more police-states are controlling the civil society. Where the states are more totalitarian and the power controlled by a little elite, while the average citizens are struggling, they will seek fortunes other places instead of in their birth-nations. Just as we would do if our destiny we’re in the limbo, if our homes were shacks and our sockets could electrocute us.

So the world of 2017, will be inflicted with the unfinished business of past, like all years has been, with as much uncertainty as the start of 2016, but with new issues and new struggles, with new people behind bars because of political affiliation, more families lost loved ones because of demonstrations, more people fleeing as the machetes and burning villages for land-grabbing, foreign investors taking land while locals cannot get deeds, as the central government are getting needed funds to supply the army with equipment and salaries, civil servants are left behind with reunification and it is happening so many places. Nobody confess nobody impose on it or even sanction this. We should question the economic challenges and the way they allocate funds, especially when many of these states get based government loans from the IMF and World Bank to basically could function; together with the reasonable taxation they can be able get from their citizens.

We shouldn’t silent on the merciless acts of men, we shouldn’t be ignorant of the world of oppression and fear, as the grand masters of our times are destroying and depleting lands for fortunes, as the multi-national companies see only profits and not see the populations they are forcing into unjust working conditions to trade resources into high profits abroad. These acts shouldn’t be forgotten, as industries and the trade are made for the international companies to gain and not all locals, therefore the polarization are created in these, create more havoc and even more injustice, as the unfair world we live in doesn’t give hands to ones in need. The rich can get it all, while the poor is lucky if they have enough for a jerry-can to buy water. That isn’t justice, that isn’t right when others are only drinking imported expensive French Water.         

We should questions the systems and revise them for more balanced between the rich and poor, for more functioning United Nations, for more diplomatic efforts and for stronger laws that cannot make Presidents into Emperors! The reality is that 2017 will start where 2016 and that is not in positive looks into the future, because the powers we have, the armies and police are targeting fellow citizens who deserves better. We all deserve better and we all should know better. Peace.

Gabon: Le communiqué du président Jean Ping adressé au peuple (21.12.2016)

Gabon: “Pour reconstruire l’avenir de notre Gabon les partisans du changement sont invités à prendre part massivement au dialogue inclusif” (10.12.2016)

Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, concerning referral from the Gabonese Republic (29.09.2016)

On 21 September 2016, I received a referral from the Government of the Gabonese Republic regarding the situation in Gabon since May 2016 with no end-date. In reference to article 14 of the Rome Statute, Rule 45 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence and Regulation 25(1)(b) of the Regulations of the Office of the Prosecutor, the Government of the Gabonese Republic requests the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “Court”) “to open an investigation without delay”.

In accordance with the requirement of the Rome Statute my Office will be conducting a preliminary examination in order to establish whether the criteria for opening an investigation are met. A preliminary examination is not an investigation but a process of examining the information available in order to reach a fully informed determination on whether there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation pursuant to the criteria established by the Rome Statute.

Specifically, under article 53(1) of the Rome Statute, as Prosecutor, I must consider issues of jurisdiction, admissibility and the interests of justice in making this determination. The Office gives due consideration to all submissions and views conveyed to it during the course of a preliminary examination, strictly guided by the requirements of the Rome Statute and in the independent and impartial exercise of its mandate.

My Office will examine information regarding crimes allegedly committed by any groups or individuals involved in the situation. Where a referral is accompanied by supporting documentation that identifies potential perpetrators, my Office is not bound or constrained by the information contained therein when conducting investigations in order to determine whether specific persons should be charged. After careful analysis of all available information, I shall make a determination that will be made public in due course.

The Gabonese Republic is a State Party to the Rome Statute, and as such, the ICC has jurisdiction over genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed on the territory or by nationals of Gabon since 1 July 2002, the date when the Statute entered into force in Gabon.

Referral under Article 14 of the Rome Statute submitted by the Gabonese Republic

Power of Attorney

For background, see The Office of the Prosecutor’s Policy Paper on Preliminary Examinations, November 2013, particularly par. 27

The Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC conducts independent and impartial preliminary examinations, investigations and prosecution of the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Office has been conducting investigations in: Uganda; the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Darfur, Sudan; the Central African Republic (two separate investigations); Kenya; Libya; Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Georgia. The Office is also conducting preliminary examinations relating to the situations in Afghanistan; Burundi; the registered vessels of Comoros, Greece and Cambodia; Colombia; Guinea; Iraq/UK; Palestine, Nigeria and Ukraine.

mailto:OTPNewsDesk@icc-cpi.int

Bongo hints at including opposition in new government (Youtube-Clip)

“In Gabon, President Ali Bongo is looking to form a new government, after the constitutional court declared him the winner of the disputed presidential election. Bongo says he would “most likely” include his political opponents in the new administration. But the opposition continues to reject his victory. Thuli Tshabalala has more” (CCTV Africa, 2016).

Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the situation in the Gabonese Republic (23.09.2016)

The Secretary-General underlines that those who instigate or commit violence must be held accountable.

NEW YORK, United States of America, September 23, 2016 – As the Constitutional Court of the Gabonese Republic prepares to make its ruling on the disputes emanating from the presidential election of 27 August 2016, the Secretary-General calls on the authorities, including the security agencies, to fully respect human rights and fundamental freedoms during this challenging period.

The Secretary-General strongly urges all actors, in particular the political leaders and their followers, to exercise maximum restraint, refrain from any form of violence and remain calm ahead of and after the Court’s ruling. Any additional loss of life in Gabon is unacceptable. It is the responsibility of the authorities and political leaders to ensure that the violence witnessed after the announcement of the provisional results of the presidential election on 31 August is not repeated.

The Secretary-General underlines that those who instigate or commit violence must be held accountable. Disagreements between the parties should be expressed peacefully.

The Secretary-General encourages the victorious candidate will engage in genuine national dialogue towards inclusive democratic governance and the rule of law, including reforms in the management of future elections. The United Nations stands ready to support these efforts.

Communique: 624th PSC Meeting on the post- electoral situation in Gabon (14.09.2016)

The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 624th Meeting, held on 13 September 2016, adopted the following decision on the post- electoral situation in Gabon:

Council:

1. Takes Note of the briefing made by the Commissioner for Peace and Security on the latest developments in the situation in Gabon, following the proclamation of the provisional results of the Presidential Election held in that country on 27 August 2016. Council Welcomes the outcome of the Mission undertaken by the Commissioner for Peace and Security to Libreville and Ndjamena from 8 to 10 September 2016, particularly to consult the Gabonese stakeholders about the envisaged visit to the country of a high-level delegation composed of African Heads of State, led by the Current Chairman of the African Union, H.E. President Idriss Deby Itno of Chad;
2. Recalls the Press Statement PSC/PR/BR.DCXX of its 620th Meeting held on 2 September 2016. Council, reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty of Gabon, recalls also the relevant provisions, among others, of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, the Protocol Relating to Establishment of the Peace and Security Council and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance;
3. Welcomes the initiatives taken by the Current Chairman of the AU, H.E. Idriss Deby Itno, as well as the Chairperson of the Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma in the search for an early resolution of the post-electoral situation in Gabon, in respect of the will of the Gabonese people as expressed on 27 August 2016. Council expresses its appreciation to the countries of the region, through the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), as well as to the partners, in particular the United Nations, for their continued support to AU efforts in Gabon;
4. Takes Note, with satisfaction, of the appeal lodged with the Constitutional Court by the candidates to the Presidential Election, thus using legal and constitutional means as provided for the resolution of any dispute related to the result of the ballot;
5. Stresses the importance of the conclusion of the appeals process submitted by the candidates to the presidential election, in a transparent and regular manner, thus contributing to the entrenchment of democracy in Gabon, as well as to promotion of peace and stability in the country and in the region. Council requests the Commission, in close cooperation with the partners concerned, and within the respect of the sovereignty of Gabon, to support the relevant Gabonese institutions in their efforts aimed at enhancing the transparency and credibility of the review process, as well as the proclamation of the final results of the Presidential Election of 27 August 2016 by the Constitutional Court;
6. Requests the Commission to deploy observers, who will be chosen from among eminent members of high African French speaking jurisdictions, to assist the Constitutional Court of Gabon, in accordance with the modalities to be determined by common agreement with the said Court, as well as in compliance with the rules of procedure and the relevant provisions of title VI of the Gabonese Constitution;
7. Appeals to the partners to continue to support AU’s initiatives in Gabon;
8. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

Blood stains, shuttered glass left over after raid on Jean Ping’s campaign headquarters (Youtube-Clip)

“The headquarters of Gabon’s opposition presidential candidate Jean Ping is a strew of broken glass and smashed furniture as a result of a raid on the office last Wednesday by security forces. The raid was said to have happened late Wednesday evening after the declaration of Ali Bongo as winner of the poll” (AfricaNews, 2016)