Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Loic Ntoutoume
Published on 2024-02-19 16:11:35
The Secretary General in charge of communication and spokesperson of the SDG, Thierry Makando, held a press conference at the headquarters of the Gabonese Social Democrats, denouncing a blatant violation of the law during the party’s merger-absorption by the PDG. This statement comes after the Ministry of the Interior officially reinstated the SDG, thus opening a new chapter in the Gabonese political landscape.
During a resounding press conference on February 19, 2024, the Secretary General in charge of communication and spokesperson for the Gabonese Social Democrats (SDG), Thierry Makando, sparked a major controversy by denouncing what he refers to as a “manifest and blatant violation of the law” during the party’s merger-absorption by the PDG. This declaration follows a series of tumultuous events that have shaken the members of this political party created in February 2018.
Since its foundation, the Gabonese Social Democrats have emerged as a major player in the Gabonese political scene, advocating for a change in paradigms in national politics. Under the leadership of its founding president, Juste Louango Bouyomeka, the party has rallied a large base of support, attracting people with its innovative vision and commitment to democratic and social values.
In the face of this breakthrough by the SDG, the then Head of State, and also the president of the Gabonese Democratic Party, had received the president of the SDG on June 9, 2021, to express his wish to see the SDG merge into the PDG through a merger-absorption, in order to bring a new impetus to the ruling party. Firm instructions were given to his political cabinet in this regard. However, this initiative is said to have been launched in violation of several texts governing the functioning of political parties.
During his declaration, the National Secretary of the SDG highlighted several critical points of this political turnaround, notably emphasizing the non-compliance with the merger process as stipulated by the law, the absence of formal validation during the PDG congress, and the lack of official notification of this decision to the SDG. These irregularities led the SDG to file an annulment appeal, eventually resulting in its official reinstatement by the Ministry of the Interior in December 2023.
“The Ministry of the Interior has read the Law and has officially issued the Gabonese Social Democrats a receipt dated December 5, 2023, granting the SDG a reinstatement. With this, the SDG intends to continue, with more determination and commitment, its brilliant work on the national political stage. In this regard, the Gabonese Social Democrats inform companions, militants and sympathizers, as well as the international community, of the impending resumption of its activities throughout the national territory,” declared Thierry Makando with exaltation.
During the legislative and local elections of August 2018, by obtaining 8 national deputies and 42 local elected officials, including 7 mayors and 3 presidents of departmental councils, distributed across 5 of the 9 provinces in Gabon, the SDG thus rose to 2nd place in the national political stage, after the PDG. This reinstatement marks a decisive turning point in the history of the SDG. With a new impetus and renewed determination, the party is preparing to resume its activities throughout the national territory. An announcement welcomed with enthusiasm by the militants and sympathizers, who have not failed to greet this renewal with joy and conviction.
Read the original article(French) on Gabon Review
