Communities are bearing the brunt of the restrictions. This is something happening all over the world, and I sympathise with their hardship. My responsibility as head of state requires me to implement measures that are not enjoyable. But I have to take the right decisions to protect the Gabonese people. Also, while the number of deaths reported in Gabon is relatively low, the figure has risen significantly since the start of the year. One-third of all coronavirus-related deaths were reported in the past three months, which shows how essential it is to maintain, and sometimes tighten, certain restrictions.
It also highlights the need to hasten the implementation of our vaccination programme. Sputnik V vaccines are set to arrive soon. Gabon is also a member of the COVAX initiative, which has already begun delivering vaccines in other parts of Africa, so we should receive our allotment soon.
No stone has been left unturned. My goal is to help the Gabonese people get back to a normal lifestyle as quickly as possible. What are you looking to achieve? There has been talk of economic diversification for a long time now. The fact remains that Gabon has made immense strides on this field in the space of 10 years.
For instance, the timber sector has gained considerable ground, while the share of oil in GDP is down from In addition, Gabon is increasingly processing its commodities locally before exporting them abroad, which is good for industry and creates jobs. We want to boost these dynamics with the help of the PAT, which was adopted in January. The objective is to make the most of the three years covered by the plan for Gabon. Eventually, our growth will not only be more robust, but also more endogenous, meaning less reliant on global commodity prices, as well as a more powerful engine for job creation — 30, jobs in three years in the timber sector alone — and more sustainable and adapted to the emergence of climate change.
How would you assess your performance as head of state since ? In , a large majority of voters rejected you in favour of Jean Ping. Anyone who loves their country would always like to do more for it.
Certainly, we could have done better in some areas. Mistakes that could have been avoided were made. But while we have fallen short in certain respects, we have also produced many accomplishments. There were misunderstandings. We share the same desire to have bilateral relations that are enriching, serene and, I would say, in line with the times.
Countries in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, along with Russia and Turkey, are increasingly doing business here, which attests to our economic attractiveness. At the same time, we have been able to maintain a special relationship with our traditional partners, chief among them Europe and the United States.
In the international arena, Gabon is a partner that matters. Our activism and place at the forefront on certain issues, such as tackling climate change [the country chairs the African Group of Negotiators ahead of COP26], is admired in particular. The Gabonese people have a multitude of expectations, especially in the wake of the Covid pandemic. Do you think you will be able to meet their demands? If I had the slightest doubt about this, I would have suffered the consequences long ago.
I have an obligation to deliver results to the Gabonese people. I will continue to devote all my energy to meeting their most legitimate expectations. And I have energy to spare! I must admit, however, that I barely find the time to read lately, as I have a great deal of projects on my plate.
My father, of course. We believe that Africa is poorly represented, and badly under-estimated. Beyond the vast opportunity manifest in African markets, we highlight people who make a difference; leaders turning the tide, youth driving change, and an indefatigable business community. That is what we believe will change the continent, and that is what we report on.
With hard-hitting investigations, innovative analysis and deep dives into countries and sectors, The Africa Report delivers the insight you need. Give yourself a headstart: Get full access to The Africa Report on all your devices. Subscribe now. Most of its losses in the 1 November local government elections have been in metros, where it retained outright control of only two out of the eight - all of which were under ANC control following the first local government elections in The last president of South Africa under its apartheid system, Frederik Willem de Klerk, has died at the age of 85 following a battle with cancer.
Although he leaves behind a mixed legacy, he and Nelson Mandela were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work in ending the apartheid regime and steering the country onto the path towards democracy. Back to Bongo. The article continues below. Ms Mr. Get information from Jeune Afrique Media Group: subscription deals, special offers….
However, his supporters point to his role in attempting to diversify Gabon's oil-dependent economy, in the face of declining oil reserves. Analyst Paul Melly of the British think-tank Chatham House told The Guardian that Ali Bongo was "very sharp and he could see that the difficulty with producing raw materials was that it doesn't create many jobs.
Alongside this, there have been new investments in mining and a "serious effort to develop a more environmentally sustainable approach to use of the rainforest", Mr Melly told the BBC.
All of which, he added, is "certainly significant within the constraints imposed by Gabon's small population and a cost base that is high by African standards". President Bongo has also used his own contacts to press harder for a stronger economy, travelling the world to find new investors and partners in countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, while still keeping close ties with France.
It was during a visit to Saudi Arabia for an investment conference in October that he was first admitted to hospital. He eventually left for Morocco at the end of November, where he remains. Frustration over the lack of information surrounding his illness is thought to be one of the triggers behind January's attempted coup. It certainly suggests that some in Gabon - a country where a third of people live below the poverty line - would like to see change.
For the moment, however, it seems power still lies with the president and his allies. Gabon country profile. Freemasonry 'a bit like Facebook'. Image source, Getty Images. Gabon's outsider. Ali Bongo is married to French-born Sylvia, pictured here with their four children. Funk music and freemasonry.
Warning: Third party content may contain adverts. Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi visited Gabon in when construction began on a new international football stadium. Corruption allegations. The family strongly denies all the allegations. Related Topics.
Malika was educated in the United States, and also in France, where she studied international relations at the University of Sorbonne in Paris. She is married to Steve Dossou. Welcome to Africanews Please select your experience. Watch Live. Breaking News Close. News Son of Gabon president appointed 'coordinator of presidential affairs'. Gabon The eldest son of Gabonese president Ali Bongo Ondimba, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, has been handed a political appointment at the presidency according to reports.
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