In Gabon, a new figure is emerging on the political scene. Joseph Owondault Berre was recently appointed vice-president of the transition by the president of the transition, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema. This appointment was made within the framework of article 40 of the transition charter which provides for this possibility. However, few people really know Joseph Owondault Berre, which raises many questions.
Before his appointment, Joseph Owondault Berre enjoyed a quiet retirement after serving in companies such as the Gabon Energy and Water Company (SEEG) and the Petroleum Products Warehousing Company (SGEPP). In these various positions, he was renowned for his integrity and professionalism, having never been involved in cases of theft or corruption. His academic career is also remarkable, obtaining an engineering degree in electrical engineering at the National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA) in Lyon, France.
Although little known to the general Gabonese public, Joseph Owondault Berre now becomes the second personality in the country, after the president of the transition. However, it is important to emphasize that according to the transition charter, the vice-president is not eligible for the presidential election which will mark the end of the transition. This provision cannot be called into question.
The appointment of Joseph Owondault Berre therefore raises many questions about his role and his influence in the current transition in Gabon. Do his presumed discretion and integrity make him a strategic choice to support the president of the transition in this delicate period? Or is this an appointment intended to satisfy certain political forces in place? It is clear that only the evolution of the political situation will make it possible to answer these questions.
In the meantime, Joseph Owondault Berre will likely face many challenges as vice-president of the transition. Political stability and the management of the reforms necessary to ensure a return to a democratic system will certainly be at the heart of his responsibilities. Let us hope that his rigor and sense of integrity will be assets to lead Gabon towards a better future.
In conclusion, the appointment of Joseph Owondault Berre as vice-president of the transition in Gabon raises questions. Little known to the general public, he is nevertheless described as a person of integrity and rigor. Its role in this period of political transition remains to be defined, but it will certainly have a key role to play in the stability and reconstruction of the country. Only time will tell if this appointment was a wise choice.