Gabon: “At the end of this dialogue, our country Gabon must equip itself with solid, impersonal, and lasting texts” (Mgr Jean Patrick Iba-Ibaba)

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Libreville, Archbishop Jean Patrick Iba-ba, also president of the inclusive national dialogue bureau whose opening took place this Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at the Palais des Sports in Libreville, expressed the wish that this grand event would provide Gabon with a truly democratic and unmanipulable constitution.

“At the end of this dialogue, our country Gabon must equip itself with solid, impersonal, and lasting texts”, declared Mgr Iba-Ibaba in his speech, which foreshadows forthcoming recommendations, which will be translated, without reluctance, into laws and submitted to a referendum.

To the 600 participants and other experts involved, the president of the meeting bureau made it clear that “the hope of an entire people rests on us.” He therefore called on everyone to “surpass themselves” to build the foundations of a true reconciliation process, far from settling scores.

“So much harm has been done to this people and this country; however, we must not succumb to the temptation of incrimination or revenge”, he urged.

Preceded by a call for contributions that received more than 38,000 contributions from all citizens, this inclusive national dialogue was opened by the President of the Transition, President of the Republic, Head of State, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, in the presence of his Central African counterpart, Faustin Archange Touadera, facilitator of the ECCAS.

For the Gabonese leader, “I will make this national meeting a framework conducive to incubating innovative ideas that will inspire the drafting of a new constitution, as well as the promotion of laws favoring free and transparent elections.”

Sydney IVEMBI