2022counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)3In May, the child of former Gabonese President Omar Bongo4that people have been indicted in France.announcementThe charges include embezzlement of public funds, corruption, and misuse of company assets. The charges include embezzlement of public funds, corruption, and misuse of company assets. They are,1995Since the year2004He stated that he received a building in a prime location in Paris over the course of two years as a gift from his father, Mr. Bongo, and that he did not know whether the source of the funds was illicit.

Corruption by those in power has been rampant in Gabon for many years. The history of political corruption in Gabon also has a lot to do with France, which used to be a colony of Gabon. What kind of relationship exists between Gabon and France? And what kind of darkness lurks in the corruption problem?

Omar Bongo's election propaganda billboard in Libreville, Gabon's capital (Photo:huguesn / Flickr [CC BY-NC-SA 2.0])

Colonial Gabon

To explore the background of the issue, we first look at Gabon'sHistoryLet us look back on the In the region where Gabon is now located, there used to beslave tradewere taking place. France and other countries sent many slaves from Africa as labor to produce commodity crops in their own colonies in the Americas. However, France, which banned slavery in 1848, began to send slaves to Africa for the resources needed for its industrial sector and the markets to sell its commodities.Sought.To secure its commercial interests in Africa, France negotiated with the two political leaders who now ruled Gabon and concluded a treaty in 1839. The treaty agreed to transfer sovereignty over the region to France. In addition to the rulers, France sent teachers, experts, and others to present-day Gabon. Then, in 1910, the present Gabon, together with the present Chad, Congo, and the Central African Republic, was incorporated into the Republic of the Congo, which was then called the Central African Republic.French Equatorial AfricaIn 1946, France and the French colonies, including French Equatorial Africa, were combined under the Constitution of the Fourth Republic. Later in 1946, France and the French colonies, including French Equatorial Africa, were combined under the Constitution of the Fourth Republic to form theCoalition FrançaiseIt was stipulated that the The French Confederation was established in 1958 as the French Community (Communauté Française d'Afrique Gabon became an autonomous republic with a high degree of autonomy and signed a cooperation agreement with France. In 1960, Gabon achieved independence as the Republic of Gabon.

To be ruled by Omar Bongo

The year after Gabon achieved independence, Leon Mbah was elected as the country's first president. Mbah attempted to establish a one-party dictatorship, but young military officers opposed this and staged a coup d'etat in 1964. However, the coup ended in failure when French troops dispatched by order of former French President Charles de Gaulle intervened. The intervention of the French military in the coup in Gabon is believed to have had both economic and political intentions. One of the reasons was that the country was one of France's former colonies with a large amount of uranium resources, a natural resource. Uranium is a raw material for nuclear weapons, and since 1951, France has been a nuclear weaponsdevelopmentThe company was doing the same. It was important for France to have influence over Gabon in terms of securing access to uranium resources. Gabon also has many oil resources. The oil company operated by the French government at the timeElf Aquitainehas been expanding into Gabon for oil extraction. From these points, it can be seen that France regarded Gabon's resources as important, and this is thought to be the reason for its intervention in Gabon.

Thus, despite Gabon's formal independence from France, France continued to intervene politically, economically, and militarily to maintain its sphere of influence and influence. These neocolonialist moves were referred to as "fransaphricIt is sometimes referred to as "the French colonialism". This includes the aspect of France supporting the leaders of former colonial countries that are convenient for its own country. For example, it has secured the resources that exist in Gabon at a low price, and in return has provided military and political support to Gabonese leaders, or protected them from coups d'etat and other threats, as in the case of Mbah, mentioned above. After independence, the relationship of suzerain state and colonial power has been dissolved, but the relationship of illicit cooperation between the powers of the two countries for the sake of profit continues.

andCFA FrancThe introduction of the CFA (*1) was another example of French intervention in former colonial countries. France also had to deposit 50% of its foreign currency reserves in French banks. This system allows France to maintain economic influence over the former colonial powers.

After the death of the first president, Mba, in 1967, Albert Bernard Bongo, then vice president, was promoted to the presidency. This was the birth of the Bongo administration, which would last more than 40 years. The new French government was not without its problems.interferenceThe two are now in the same room. When Mbah fell ill, former President de Gaulle encouraged Bongo, who had served in the French military, to take over the presidency. The year after his inauguration, Bongo established a one-party dictatorship with the Parti Démocratique Gabonais (PDG). In 1973, he converted to Islam and changed his name to Omar Bongo.

Statue of Omar Bongo (Photo:jbdodane / Flickr [CC BY-NC 2.0])

Afterwards,1973and1979Bongo won both of the elections held in the 1960s and 1970s. It should be noted, however, that these two elections were held under a one-party dictatorship, and there were no other candidates other than Mr. Bongo. In response to Bongo's rule, a new political group outside the ruling party emerged in 1982, seeking to improve the multiparty system and the corrupt political situation.controlHe was defeated. Then again in 1986, Bongo was reelected.

of the end of this one-party dictatorship.impetusIn 1989, the government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) announced that it was going to establish a new government in the country.Malta Conference (1955)With the end of the Cold War, the world lost its support for the dictatorships of the major powers, which had been conducted in the Cold War conflict, and the movement for democratization spread around the world. Democratization was also demanded in Gabon. In addition, Gabon was experiencing difficult economic conditions in the 1980s. In 1990, a revised constitution was adopted, allowing for a multi-party system, and the country moved from a single-party dictatorship to a multi-party system.

This, however, did not bring about a democratic political system. Many of the politicians who criticized Bongo weretakeoverAs a result, the opposition was not functioning as it should have. Bongo subsequently won the 1993 and 1998 elections, but the opposition accused the government of electoral fraud.criticismThe Gabonese electoral system has a number of problems. Gabon's electoral system has a number of problems. For example, the results of the elections are phased in.Not announced.This makes it easy to control the election results. Unlike other African countries, the results of each electoral district are collected in one place and announced together, making it easy to manipulate the results. In addition, the restriction introduced in 1997 that a president can serve up to two terms in office has been removed by a constitutional amendment in 2003, which allows a president to serve up to two terms in office.abolitionThe presidential term limits were eliminated. In addition, key government positions were almost exclusively held by persons related to Mr. Bongo. Through these political circumstances, Bongo's control of the government became increasingly solid.

Oil platforms in Gabon (Photo:pxhere [CC0 1.0])

It is not only political problems that exist in Gabon. There are also serious financial problems caused by large-scale corruption. Much of the money from taxes and oil sales, which should have been used for public works, is being used by the Bongo family and their high-ranking government officials.embezzlementMr. Bongo has been a member of the board of directors of the company for more than 30 years. Mr. Bongo has beenproperty, including at least 183 cars, 39 luxury properties in France, and 66 bank accounts before his death in 2009.Built up.The country is also considered to have a serious corruption problem with France. There is also a serious corruption problem that has infested the country with France. For example, the French oil company ELF was found in 2001 to have bribed Bongo and others for many years in order to obtain oil at low prices.detectionThe first time, the company was in a position to do so.It was part of what is considered the largest corruption case in the post-World War II West. France, which supports ELF, also used Gabon as a military base in Central Africa, and in return, Mr. Bongo received military protection. The French promotion of corrupt politics and corrupt practices were not limited to Gabon, but had been going on for many years in other former French colonial countries as well.

In addition, not only were funds provided to Gabon from the French side, but also from Mr. Bongo to France. The common currency in the former French countries, theCFAIn 2009, senior Gabonese officials working for the Banque des États de l'Afrique Centrale (BEAC), which issues the franc, conspired to embezzle millions of US dollars.confirmingThe company did so. The embezzled funds are believed to have been provided to French presidential candidates as campaign contributions at Bongo's direction, and the alleged recipients of the funds are the 22nd and 23rd French presidents, Jacques Chirac andMr. Nicolas SarkozyThe French have supported Mr. Bongo, who has been politically and economically expedient for their country. As we have seen, France has supported Mr. Bongo because he is politically and economically convenient for the country. However, Mr. Bongo, for his part, has also been supporting a French presidential candidate who is likely to adopt policies that will support him.compositionexisted.

Regime passed to his son, Ali Bongo.

After the death of then incumbent President Omar Bongo in 2009, his son, Ali Bongo, was elected and became president.inaugurationThe election results were not a surprise to the opposition, however. However, in response to this election result, the opposition parties have been calling it rigged andobjectionchanted "We are not going to let this happen. And the opposition, which did not recognize the election results, boycotted Bongo's (child) presidential inauguration ceremony. And the results of the subsequent 2016 presidential election were also rigged.Suspected.Although the difference in the number of votes cast between Mr. Bongo and the opposition leader, former African Union Commission President Jean Ping, was slight, there were suspicions that the vote count itself was manipulated. In addition, the court that determined the election results was composed of judges appointed by Mr. Bongo, and the results were not in favor of Mr. Bongo, but of Mr. Ping.announcementThe election was held in the United States. In addition, after the election, Gabon's security forces moved Ping's headquarters toattackThe two parties were then in the process of holding their first elections. The opposition estimated that about 30 people were killed in these post-election clashes.

Ali Bongo and François Hollande, 24th President of France (Photo: GPA Photo Archive / Flickr [Public Domain Mark 1.0])

Following in the footsteps of Bongo's (father) father, fiscal problems have continued to plague Gabon under Ali Bongo's administration: oil prices plummeted globally in 2014, which in turn reduced government revenues. As a result, Gabon's economy, which relies on oil for national revenue, was unstable. In addition, the oil fields that exist in Gabon are being depleted and production isdecreaseHowever, it is difficult to say whether there is an industry in Gabon that can replace oil as a new source of income. However, it is difficult to say that there is an industry in Gabon that can replace oil as a new source of income. This downturn in the oil industry has made life more difficult for the people than ever before. In the first place, much of the oil extraction in Gabon isforeign-owned enterpriseThis is being done by the There are, of course, problems of embezzlement by those in power, but historically, foreign companies have reaped most of the profits from the oil present in Gabon. In recent years.improvementAlthough this is being done, it is an issue that cannot be overlooked.

According to the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI), Gabon has119thIt is positioned in the The Human Development Index is an indicator used to measure a country's level of development and wealth in three aspects: health, education, and income. Gabon's ranking of 119th is low among countries that derive their wealth from oilorderIt can be said that Wealth is not distributed to the people and infrastructure is not well developed. In terms of education, there are not enough educational opportunities in Gabon. Nevertheless, the Bongo family's children attend school in England.matriculationThe children are being educated to become members of the political elite.

While many of these problems remain in the country, in 2018 Mr. Bongo suffered a stroke while in Saudi Arabia.outbreak of an illnessHe was to be in Morocco for medical treatment. His recuperation outside the country left the country without a president for a while. The following year, in 2019, Bongo returned to Morocco after completing his recuperation and officially returned to the presidency.

Toward Gabon's Future

As we have seen, there are many political and economic problems in Gabon today. What developments have taken place in Gabon in recent years to address these problems? For example, Mr. Bongo2017He has been promoting an anti-corruption campaign since 2006.mamba (snake of the genus Dendroaspis)This campaign, known as the "Bongo Campaign," has resulted in the firing and detention of government officials believed to have embezzled funds from Gabon's state-owned oil company. However, the campaign was aimed at eliminating Bongo's opponents.how to look at something (e.g. noh, train schedule)There are also

Gabon also has a2021The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) was established in 2006. (EITI)mouth turned down at the cornersrejoining a clubThe program is fulfilling the following objectives. It is a framework for multilateral cooperation to prevent corruption and conflict and promote resource development by increasing transparency in the flow of funds from extractive industries to resource-producing countries. Gabon had joined the EITI in 2007, but was disqualified in 2013 for failing to submit a verification report by the agreed deadline. However, it has now been accepted by the EITI Board of Directors and will rejoin.

Other moves besides anti-corruption measures have also been seen. In response to the downturn in Gabon's oil industry, Bongo has been working in the timber sector since 2010.encouragementThe company has been working on tropical rainforests that exist in Gabon.approximately halfis allocated as commercial forests, and according to data from the French Ministry of Finance, Gabon's timber production will nearly double in the nine years from 2012 to 2021.increaseThe company has been doing so. However, large-scale deforestation is a seriousenvironmental problemand the logging in some areas to solve the problem.prohibitionand others are making progress.

Trucks carrying lumber in Gabon (Photo:jbdodane / Flickr [CC BY-NC 2.0])

Also, in 2022, Gabon will declare its accession to the British Commonwealth.announcementThe first time, the company was in a position to do so.Commonwealth of Nations (formerly British Commonwealth)is a group of nations, primarily consisting of the United Kingdom and former British colonies, whose members are linked diplomatically and economically. The Gabonese government has stated that the purpose of joining the Union is to diversify its economy. It also says that by leaving France and joining the British Commonwealth, it is trying to escape French influence.how to look at something (e.g. noh, train schedule)There are also

Thus, after many years of political challenges, economic and political changes are gradually taking place in Gabon. However, not much has changed in the system of rule by the Bongo family, which can be said to be responsible for creating the difficult situation that has prevailed to date. In order to change this situation, further major reforms, such as a revision of the Constitution and a change in the electoral system, must be promoted. It is also important to find a way to overcome the negative historical legacy of the illicit cooperative relationship with France that supports the Bongo family's rule. The development of non-oil industries, including the timber sector, will also be essential to improve the poverty of the people. Of course, it is also necessary to crack down even harder on corruption and prevent it. We hope that Gabon will change for the better in the future.

1 The official name of the CFA Franc is the Communauté Financière Africaine Franc for the West African region and the Coopération Financière Africaine Franc for the Central African region. The two CFA francs are the French franc and the French franc. These two CFA francs are different currencies issued by different central banks, although both have the same exchange rate with the French franc.

Writer: Hisahiro Furukawa

Graphic: Haruka Gonno