Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Roxanne Bouenguidi
Published on 2024-02-28 11:40:46
The rehabilitation of the Gabonese Social-Democrats (SDG) is a disappointment for the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG). The former ruling party has been urged to change course.
In politics, unity should never be forced or coerced. Drunk on the illusion of omnipotence, the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) believed it could bypass this rule. In preparation for the August 2023 presidential election, it initiated a series of mergers and absorptions without taking the time to reflect. In April 2021, it welcomed the troops of Democracy Nouvelle (DN) led by René Ndemezo’o Obiang. The following month, Frédéric Massavala Maboumba joined with all his belongings. In November of the same year, the Holy Grail was achieved with the sinking of the Rally for the Restoration of Values (RV) and then the Gabonese Social Democrats (SDG). A little over two years later, it’s disillusionment, with the SDG announcing their rehabilitation following the discovery of a “manifest and flagrant violation of the law”. Nothing less…
Short-sighted analyses
As a result of an opportunistic strategy, this earthquake presages others, while highlighting the limits of shady arrangements. Concluded amid mockery, these mergers and absorptions could not survive the power play of August 30, 2023, as the PDG resorted to blackmail and coercion to achieve them. With the revival of the SDG, yesterday’s humiliated can hope for their revenge: according to rumors, DN could regain its freedom very soon. Coming from a party led by a seasoned political player, such a maneuver would harm both its initiator and the PDG, a victim of its short-sighted analyses. One can already imagine the mockery about “hunger, bread, and pleasures” or the refusal to “die okoukout'”. One also anticipates the taunts about “regeneration and revitalization, the cement of national unity and the engine of the economic and social vision of the distinguished comrade president”.
Although no one explicitly notes it, the rehabilitation of the SDG questions the actions of one man: Éric Dodo Bounguendza. Long accused of weakness, ideological poverty, or devotion to the late “Young Team”, the former Secretary-General of the PDG conducted these operations with the casualness typical of democrats in appearance. Sure of his position and the absolute power of his party, he was not concerned about anything. On the procedure, as well as on formalization and notification, he was lax, even permissive. To him, as to his colleagues, the events of recent days remind them of this iron law: just like for a State, the management of a party is based on respect for the rule of law. To him, as to them, they also repeat this: in a Republic, equality before the law is a sacred principle; anyone who believes they can circumvent it will eventually pay for it.
Impossible amalgamation
To the other supposed allies of the PDG, the events of recent days necessarily give them ideas. In the recent past, the fear of having to answer for their misdeeds or the quest for perks led them to yield to the PDG’s dictates. Siamese brothers, SDG and RV feared having to explain the origin of the funds squandered during the combined elections of October 2018, DN believed it would make a fortune on the “gathering of all the spiritual sons of Omar Bongo Ondimba”, Frédéric Massavala Maboumba hoped to find a “solution” to his existential problems. As all this does not constitute a coherent project or a collective goal, amalgamation proved impossible. Worse, August 30, 2023 passed by. Therefore, everyone is trying to figure out how to come out on top. Faced with this situation, what can the interim leadership of the PDG do? Nothing. Already, the “Self-criticism and Refoundation Conference” was a resounding failure.
The emergence of the Committee for Transition and the Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) on the political scene showed how the PDG regime was worm-eaten, internally as well. In terms of values, principles, ideas, as well as in its relations with the associative or trade union world, this party was revealed to be out of touch with its time. Regardless of any bias, all these shortcomings are likely to encourage the different components to see if the grass is greener elsewhere. By regaining their autonomy, the SDG have done just that. Moreover, they have invited the PDG to change course. In other words, they have urged them to convince rather than impose, to respect procedures instead of trampling them, and to promote honesty instead of cunning. If it wants to give itself a chance to rebuild, the former ruling party must heed this message.
Read the original article(French) on Gabon Review
