Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Loic Ntoutoume
Published on 2024-02-26 14:48:30
While decentralization has remained an unachieved goal in Gabon for nearly three decades, the Technical Committee is meeting in Libreville to finally realize this long-delayed ambition. Under the guidance of the minister in charge of Decentralization and in a political context of transition, the work is crucial to turn the attempt into a tangible reality. The objective is to define the modalities of transferring the state’s competencies and means to local authorities: a reform awaited for 28 years.
As decentralization remains an unfulfilled promise in Gabon for 28 years, the Technical Committee is meeting at the City Hall in Libreville, from February 26 to 29, 2024 with a clear objective: to ensure that this ambition finally becomes a palpable reality. Under the leadership of the Minister of Decentralization, Hermann Immongault, the members of the committee have started a crucial discussion on the means to make this long-awaited policy effective.
Will Gabon finally implement its decentralization policy? This is the challenge that the transitional government has taken up, criticizing the fact that the implementation of decentralization has mainly consisted of creating local authorities administered by elected local councils throughout the country. “I instruct you to plan the implementation of the transfer of competencies over two periods, namely the Transition period and the post-Transition period,” said Interior Minister Hermann Immongault in his opening speech at the meeting, emphasizing the need for a gradual approach to ensure the success of decentralization.
The committee, composed of representatives from relevant ministries and local authorities, has four days to propose a draft plan for transferring state competencies and means to local authorities, a draft timetable for transferring state competencies and means to local authorities, and a draft law for programming the transfer of state competencies and means to local authorities. These documents will need to be approved by the government and then by Parliament before implementation.
“The present meetings reflect the will of the Head of State through the transitional government to accelerate the pace by restoring local institutions, strengthening the powers of local councils, and increasing their resources, ensuring the performance of public services and improving living conditions for the population,” said Joseph Landry Mavoungou Ndong Biteghe, Deputy 1 to the special delegate of the Commune of Libreville, expressing deep gratitude to the President of the Transition, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, for the historic opportunity it represents for the country.
The permanent secretary of the Technical Committee on Decentralization, Yongui Medoux, reiterated the legal foundations of decentralization in Gabon, emphasizing the importance of establishing the necessary bodies for its implementation. “Organic Law No. 001/2014 of June 15, 2015 on decentralization, in its article 3, defines decentralization as the transfer of state competencies and means to local authorities,” he recalled, emphasizing the need to take action after decades of waiting.
These meetings mark a turning point in Gabon’s history, where the hope of seeing decentralization become a reality is finally taking shape. The country is embarking on a historic reform aimed at strengthening its national unity, participatory democracy, and sustainable development. It is a new beginning for Gabon, which is paving the way for a decisive step towards efficient and inclusive local governance.
Read the original article(French) on Gabon Review
