Death of Omar Bongo, the Message for Africa
The End of Bongo, A New Opportunity for Gabon and Africa
Jun 12, 2009
For many Africans who have been denied the right to decide their destiny through the ballot box, nature alone remains their hope and weapon against oppressive leaders. The death of Gabonese President Omar Bongo brings an end to 41 years of plunder in a country which stands out as a glaring example of the “oil curse” in Africa. It sends a clear message to the remaining "dinosaurs" that authority will one day deny a dying king.
The departure of President Bongo also adds to the list of good things that have happened to Africa in recent years. Barack Obama’s rise to power as the first black President of America counts among these blessings. Also, the peaceful and exemplary transitions in Ghana and South Africa show that Africa has a great potential for democracy which is constantly blocked and frustrated by the likes of Omar Bongo.
How Will History Judge Omar Bongo?
Omar Bongo enters into history not only as a 1960 - generation leader who died in power in the 21st century, but also as the longest serving African leader until his death. “I think that a man should not live beyond the age when he begins to deteriorate, when the flame that lighted the brightest moment of his life has weakened,” said former Cuban President Fidel Castro. History will surely judge Bongo for not heeding to this advice.
Another major trademark of Bongo’s government was corruption. In four decades, he successfully converted the oil wealth of Gabon into personal property. “Bongo treated Gabon as a self-obsessed landlord treats his estate,” says Telegraph.co.uk. “He considered everything inside its borders to be his personal property and elevated corruption to a method of government.”
Omar Bongo’s Overseas Assets and Corruption Scandals
The former Gabonese leader came under media spotlight in 2007 for using colossal sums worth of embezzled public money to acquire lavish property in France. A French court in February 2009 decided to freeze his accounts. Bongo termed this a “campaign to destabilize” his country. Until his death, he was the object of inquiry by a French criminal court over illicit transactions with French oil company Elf Aquitaine.
At the beginning of this year, the corruption watchdog – Transparency International revealed shocking findings about Bongo’s wealth and assets overseas. The Gabonese leader owned 33 properties in Paris and Nice with a combined value exceeding 125 million pounds. In America, his accounts in New York stood at 86 million pounds.
How Bongo Kept Gabon Silent
Late President Bongo succeeded in keeping Gabon peaceful until his death in 2009. This is where the smile of history falls on him. But the cost was very high for the Gabonese people in terms of election rigging and constitutional manipulation to keep him in power for life. In 2003 for example, he changed the constitution to eliminate any restrictions on the President’s term of office.
With the loyalty and support of the army and security forces, he contested the November 2005 presidential elections. As expected, he won with a large majority and was sworn in for another seven year term in January 2006. He also succeeded in buying off the opposition with oil money. “Drop your opposition for a modest but glittering slice of the nation’s oil wealth,” says Telegraph.co.uk.
The Legacy of Omar Bongo
Omar Bongo took power as President of Gabon in December 1967 as the fourth youngest President of Africa at the time. He died in June 2009 as the longest serving President of Africa. It is in this respect that he will be remembered most.
Bongo’s death in Spain is helpful in understanding the medical conditions of oil-rich Gabon which he ruled for four decades plus. His wife Lucie Sassou-Nguesso had earlier died in March 2009 in Morocco where another ailing, discredited and exiled dinosaur – Mobutu Sese Seko died in September 1997. Like Mobutu therefore, Omar Bongo will be remembered for neglecting the development of his own country.
To deny Bongo the title of a peace-maker is an affront on his legacy. He made significant contributions to peace efforts in the Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Burundi and the democratic Republic of Congo. Of these efforts Bongo himself said “My actions to promote peace, the mediation missions which I carried out during many conflicts, which very often occurred between brothers of the same country, are not driven by any ulterior motives or any calculations based on personal ambitions.”
Late President Bongo’s journey through life has exposed him to the scrutiny of history. He might have tried to change his own destiny through the exercise of power or he might have been an instrument of destiny, a lesson for the continent of Africa especially in these very trying times. “Men do not shape destiny,” said Castro. “Destiny produces the man for the hour.” What are the lessons for African leaders?
See also Africa’s Leadership Dilemma
Sources:
Charles Anunaiju. “Omar Bongo and Power: Till Death Path Their Ways.” allAfrica.com. June 10, 2009
Fowale,Tongkeh. “What does Obama Owe Africa?” American Chronicle.com, January 27, 2009.
“Omar Bongo.”Telegraph.co.uk. June 8, 2009.
 |
 |
