Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Alix-Ida Mussavu
Published on 2024-03-26 15:34:26
Is the Gabonese Presidency trying to erase Ali Bongo from collective memory?
The Gabonese Presidency’s official website does not mention Ali Bongo among the former presidents of Gabon despite his 14 years in power. While different sections, such as those dedicated to the President of the Transition and his wife, show that the site has been updated, one might wonder if this is the work of an enthusiastic webmaster.
In Gabon, the mere mention of Ali Bongo Ondimba’s name reminds many of nearly two decades of “mediocre governance” and nearly 5 years of failure marked by his inability to govern the country after suffering a stroke in Riyadh. These are some of the reasons that led the Committee for Transition and Institutional Restoration (CTRI) to take power on August 30, 2023, following the announcement of election results that declared Ali Bongo the winner. Ill and physically weakened, the man who believed he could run for a third term as President of Gabon was immediately relegated to the status of former presidents of Gabon.
Just like Leon Mba (1961-1967), Omar Bongo (1967-2009), and even Rose Francine Rogombe, who only served in an interim capacity from June to October 2009 before Ali Bongo’s inauguration for his first term as President of Gabon. Despite becoming despised, he served two consecutive 7-year terms as President of the Republic. However, unlike his three predecessors, the ousted president does not appear in what some might call the digital record of the Gabonese Presidency.
One step towards damnatio memoriae?
Browsing the official website of this institution, any curious internet user will quickly notice that Ali Bongo is not listed among the former presidents of Gabon.
“One can hate Ali Bongo, but we should not erase him from history,” commented a former member of the ruling party. This individual suspects a vindictive approach against the deposed president, which could harm the country, as anyone seeking information on Gabon’s political history might consult the site to enrich their knowledge. “Whether one seeks to deny Ali Bongo’s work or minimize it is one thing, but falsifying history is another,” commented the same PDG leader.
“Ali Bongo served as President of the Gabonese Republic for two terms. It seems incomprehensible to me that he is not listed among the former presidents on the official website,” commented another individual, while others wonder if this is a step towards damnatio memoriae.
While the site has been updated, with different sections such as those dedicated to the Transition President and his wife, Zita Oligui Nguema, they believe it is a deliberate act by the Gabonese Presidency. Others prefer to believe that the Transition President did not give any instructions in this regard and imagine it to be the work of an overzealous webmaster. However, they all wish for Ali Bongo to be included for the sake of collective memory.
Read the original article(French) on Gabon Review
