Title: New era in Gabon: the end of a reign at the Constitutional Court
Introduction :
Gabon has just gone through a small revolution with the departure of Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo from the presidency of the Constitutional Court. After thirty-two years in office, his mission comes to an end following a decree by the president of the transition, General Oligui Nguema. This decision marks the start of a new era for the country’s highest court, with the establishment of a new Court composed of nine supreme judges.
The reign of Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo:
Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo was president of the Constitutional Court of Gabon since its creation in 1991. She held this position for a long period, making her an essential figure on the Gabonese judicial scene. However, her closeness to the Bongo family, to whom she was reputed to be close, often sparked controversy. This close relationship with power has led some Gabonese people to nickname the Constitutional Court “the Tower of Pisa”, in reference to its inclination always in favor of the regime in place.
A new era for Gabonese justice:
With the departure of Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo from the presidency of the Constitutional Court, Gabon is entering a new era for its justice. The establishment of a new Court with nine supreme judges marks a turning point in the independence and impartiality of this institution. General Oligui Nguema, president of the transition, chose to appoint judges from each province of the country, thus seeking to represent all regions of Gabon. However, this decision raised questions about the selection criteria and the personalization of choices.
The objectivity in question:
Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo has always defended her objectivity, stressing that relatives of the Bongo family had also gone to the opposition. However, the Gabonese opposition has regularly accused the Constitutional Court of ruling in favor of the regime by validating controversial elections, notably those of 2009 and 2016. Despite some examples of independent actions, such as the vote recount in 2009 or the annulment of presidential orders in 2015, this reputation for inclination towards power has tarnished the image of the Constitutional Court among part of the population.
Conclusion :
The departure of Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo from the presidency of the Constitutional Court marks the end of a thirty-two-year reign and opens the way to a new era for Gabonese justice. The establishment of a new Court with nine supreme judges is an opportunity to strengthen the independence and impartiality of this key institution. However, the choices of appointment of judges and previous criticisms leave doubts about the true objectivity of this new era. Only time will tell if Gabonese justice will manage to reinvent itself and regain the trust of all citizens.