The fight against ritual crimes in Gabon: a request for action from the new authorities
In this period of back to school and political transition, the Association for the Fight against Ritual Crimes is taking the opportunity to launch an appeal to the new authorities. Jean-Elvis Ebang Ondo, president of the association, pleads for a national awareness campaign and calls for an end to impunity.
Since the tragic death of his son, found mutilated on a beach in 2005, Jean-Elvis Ebang Ondo has fought to ensure that those responsible for ritual crimes are brought to justice. He says that “if there is one message to send to the new authorities, it is to put an end to impunity. We want justice for all.” He calls for businessmen and politicians involved in these acts to be tried and punished.
The transitional president has pledged to fight economic crimes, but Jean-Elvis Ebang Ondo hopes he will also take steps to end kidnappings linked to these beliefs. According to the association, these practices are used to obtain wealth and power, with an estimate of around a hundred ritual crimes per year, with peaks during political movements. However, due to a lack of investigations and with only four forensic doctors in the entire country, the means to fight these crimes are insufficient.
The Association for the Fight against Ritual Crimes requests that, during this transition period, an awareness campaign be carried out in the nine provinces of Gabon so that the population is informed and encouraged to file a complaint. Jean-Elvis Ebang Ondo underlines the importance of having the courage to denounce these crimes and of being able to count on justice so that the complaints are successful.
With a view to the future Penal Code, Jean Elvis Ebang Ondo also requests that ritual crimes cannot be prescribed, in order to guarantee legal proceedings without time limit.
It is crucial that the new Gabonese authorities take this issue into account and act accordingly. The fight against ritual crimes is essential to guarantee the security of citizens and put an end to the impunity that currently reigns. National mobilization and sufficient resources are necessary to investigate, prosecute and condemn the perpetrators of these abominable acts.