Gabon Roundup: Corruption, vehicle bans, presidential interventions
President provides houses for squatters
Transitional President of Gabon, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema has provided brand new houses to ten Gabonese families who were squatters at the Mindoubé public dump, located six kilometres from Libreville in the country’s capital. The single-storey villas built in 31 days by the National Real Estate Company were handed over to the families by the president. According to local news outlet Infos Gabon, each family also received an envelope of 15 million CFA Franc ($25,000) from the head of state.
Corruption and malfeasance
The Ship Captain, Minister of Transport, Loïc Ndinga Moudouma has received audit reports that show financial embezzlements and misappropriation of public funds by Gabonese Transport Company, Sogatra. According to local news outlet INews 241, nearly 3 billion FCFA (4 million) was misused between 2022 and 2023. The details were presented to the Transport minister by an audit team tasked to look into the financial details of the company. The report was submitted on December 13, 2023.
Annual ceremony held to express gratitude for year's blessings
Transition President of Gabon, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema and First Lady Zita Oligui Nguema took part in the commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the Diocese of Mouila created on December 11, 1958. The event which took place on December 10 at the Cathedral of Saint John the Apostle of Mouila was a ceremony to express gratitude to God for the year’s blessings. It was presided over by Apostolic Nuncio of Gabon and Congo, Monsignor Javier Herrera Corona, according to Gabon News.
Ban on heavy goods vehicles
The Ministry of Public Works has placed a ban on the circulation of heavy goods vehicles on the Koumameyong – Ovan road axis, a major road about 440km away from the capital Libreville. According to Infos Gabon the directive is aimed at reducing the effects of erosion on the stretch which poses a danger to drivers. The ministry is planning rehabilitation works in the coming days.
Construction of headquarters for COBAC
The president of the Gabonese Transition, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema has laid the first stone for the building of a super headquarters for the Central African Banking Commission (COBAC), the watchdog for the proper functioning of banks and microfinance establishments in the six-member countries of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). The ceremony which happened on December 12 makes way for the construction of the edifice in Libreville, the capital of Gabon, according to media outlet Gabonactu. The decision to establish the headquarters of the institution in Gabon was taken following the Conference of CEMAC Heads of State which was held in Malabo in Equatorial Guinea on June 25, 1999.
