President Ali Bongo       Photo courtesy

For the last 5 weeks, we serialized Keith Harmon Snow's thesis: The Crimes of Bongo: Apartheid & Terror in Africa's Gardens of Eden with a view of opening up discussion on the perennial negative external influence in Africa. The violence that has gripped Gabon since Ali Bongo was declared president after succeeding his father who ruled for 41 years is a clear indicator that the ‘people democracy’ is yet to take root in Africa. Elections are designed to legitimize those who serve the interests of powers that sap the continent's resources for purposes of curtailing a competitive environment.  

 

Protesters torched the consulate of former colonial ruler France in Port-Gentil, the oil-rich country's economic hub, and attacked other French interests, including offices of oil firm Total, seen as symbols of western oppression, manipulation and propaganda.

 

It is no secret that Gabon is rich in oil, uranium, manganese, wildlife and timber amongst other natural resources. The Gabonese however continue to languish in poverty, suffer from preventable diseases and are faced with environmental degradation courtesy of insensitivity of policy makers from France, USA, Canada, Switzerland, Italy and Britain among others whose firms are reported to focus on short term interests of resource wealth.

 

This is not the first time that the Gabonese have sought to take charge of their destiny. They tried to do so in March, April and May of 1990 but were quashed by a France - Gabon government led  - operation. It is pointless for the West to lecture Africans on democratic values and human rights abuses while  they (the West) sustain the malpractices on the continent through grafted institutions. It is time the West became real 'partners' instead of 'patrons' in Africa's affairs.