Inès Zeghloul, edited by Loane Nader // photo credit: Thomas SAMSON / AFP
modified to
9:40 a.m., August 31, 2023
After the dismissal of Gabonese President Ali Bongo by the country’s military forces, the latter is now under house arrest and under surveillance, while his son has been arrested. The former head of state then appealed for help from his international friends, who strongly condemned the coup. “We recall our attachment to free and transparent electoral processes,” said government spokesman Olivier Véran.
But everyone is not of this opinion in Paris, since the Franco-Gabonese devoted themselves to the celebrations this Wednesday evening in front of the Gabonese embassy in the capital. Everywhere can be seen tears of joy, green, yellow, blue flags. Loïc, president of the Gabonese Association of Rouen, made the trip for the occasion.
“We came with friends to celebrate this victory. Today, we are celebrating the end of the executioner. These are people who oppressed Gabon for more than sixty years,” he said. “I think it will be a memorable day for Gabon, this August 30, 2023,” added the president of the association.
“To respect the voice of the people”
A military coup, certainly, but synonymous with possible restructuring of the country for many of its nationals. So this Wednesday, Renan is drinking champagne, he who had reluctantly fled Gabon to find work. “We Gabonese said to ourselves ‘we are going to avoid wandering around the world, so why not go back home?'”. Further on, away from the music, Jordan smiles shyly and is already thinking about what’s next. For the latter, it is necessary “that the soldiers go to the barracks and that the politicians regain power, chosen freely by the people, to enforce the voice of the people.”
But in the meantime, the voice of the people today is that which emanates from these scenes of jubilation, these songs of joy, the same from Libreville to Paris.