Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Désiré-Clitandre Dzonteu
Published on 2024-02-28 11:13:10
The agreement for the acquisition of Assala Energy by the Gabonese state marked “a decisive step towards the reconquest of national sovereignty over oil resources,” indicated the Council of Ministers on February 23. The process has received praise from the population, members of civil society, and political actors from all sides. This led former Prime Minister under Omar Bongo, Jean François Ntoutoume Emane, president of the Rally of Republican Patriots (RPR), to speak of “an act of great courage, the result of true patriotism without compromise.”
In Gabon, there is excitement after the acquisition on February 14 by the Gabonese state of the oil company Assala Energy. “The acquisition of Assala Energy will allow the Gabonese state to control 100% of the capital of this strategic operator, the second largest oil producer in Gabon. This will give it better mastery of the value chain of the oil sector and will maximize the economic benefits for the country, while ensuring transparent and responsible management of natural resources,” explained the Council of Ministers on February 23.
Reacting to this acquisition, former Prime Minister under Omar Bongo, president of the Rally of Republican Patriots (RPR), Jean François Ntoutoume Emane, who was harsh and very critical of the fallen regime, expressed his “pride,” as did the Steering Committee of his political party, congratulating and thanking the President of the Transition, Brice Clotaire Oleg Nguema, “very warmly” and “very sincerely.”
For the leaders of this opposition political group, the act carried out by the head of the Committee for Transition and Institutional Restoration (CTRI) is “an act of great courage, the result of true patriotism without compromise.” In this perspective, they encourage the President of the Transition “to lead the actions of the CTRI in this direction and in all areas, so that our people regain their dignity and our state, its full sovereignty.”
With this acquisition, which cost 800 billion CFA francs and with Gabon now holding 75% of the shares of Assala Energy, Jean François Ntoutoume Emane ensures the CTRI of the “full support of the RPR, and all its activists throughout the national territory.”
On the part of the presidency of the Republic, it is emphasized that “the acquisition of Assala by the Gabonese state via GOC at 75% aims at a dual objective, which is to secure national resources on one hand, and to have autonomous management of oil resources on the other hand.”
Read the original article(French) on Gabon Review
