Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Gabon actu
Published on 2024-02-18 22:03:47
Except for the month (April 2024) and the identity of the future president of the works, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Libreville, Mgr Jean-Patrick Ibaba, the opinion knows almost nothing about the preparation and implementation conditions, the agenda and articulation of the future national dialogue, announced and included by the new strongmen of Gabon on the transition calendar.
The recent government seminar in Cap Estérais has not given any more indications, especially since a second scheduled act should allow the CTRI and the transitional government to exhaust the discussion points related to the organization of the national dialogue.
Less than two months away from this crucial deadline, scrutinized by both national actors and external partners of Gabon, it is an understatement to say that faced with the observed omerta, worry and all sorts of suspicions are growing.
Inclusive and Sovereign National Dialogue?
If there is no doubt that the national dialogue should be inclusive, in light of the announcement made, it would be desirable for the organizers to communicate the exact date and schedule of this crucial appointment for the political history, life and future of the nation.
The demand for transparency should extend to the agenda and content of the work. Who should participate? How will the work be carried out? Will the conclusions of these meetings be enforceable for all or just recommendations?
Preliminary questions, among many others, which should already be submitted to the attention of the national community, so that they can be pruned upstream, in a kind of consensus likely to prevent any delay in the start of the future dialogue work.
Grand Maneuvers, Intrigues and Opacity
The demand for transparency, in the perspective of this national dialogue has never been so pressing, especially since the conversations in salons and maquis abound and do not run out of allusions about all kinds of calculations around the next conference.
Indeed, many observers see in the warming of political activities (political returns in droves, rush for the creation of political parties and associations) as the will of some, hidden in the high spheres of power in particular, to weigh in on the discussions of the next dialogue, influence its decisions and ultimately get the best gains for future elections, including the 2025 presidential election.
Light of the Church
True or false, it is up to the authorities of the transition to dispel all doubts and suspicions by communicating more about all the concerns mentioned above. But not only that.
It is clear that this time, everyone agrees that the future dialogue should not be just another consultation, full of empty speeches and punctuated by conclusions without consequences.
For many, too much time has been devoted (almost 4 months) to preliminary operations, including the collection of contributions – nearly 27,000 so far, even though the way had already been paved by numerous consultations on long-standing concerns.
The silence and inaction – unless there is an ant work in progress – of the Church, especially the designated president of the dialogue works, Mgr Jean-Patrick Ibaba, is also not conducive to installing serenity in consciences.
The pragmatism and the “talking truthfully” of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Libreville and the light of the Church are strongly called upon to finally open the gates of the promised city and promote this rise towards the felicity which is so talked about.
Féeodora Madiba
Read the original article(French) on Gabon Actu
