The case involving Patience Dabany, mother of former Gabonese President Ali Bongo, was recently the subject of a first hearing on Tuesday April 9 in Gabon. This case raises accusations of illicit disturbances against the eight highest officials of the CEO, the former ruling party, following the removal of Patience Dabany at the beginning of March. This situation arises from the dismissal of his son, the former head of state Ali Bongo, from the presidency of the party, and the appointment of the eight people targeted by the complaint as CEO.
During this hearing, although the accused were not present, Patience Dabany spoke, expressing her feelings about this situation. Her lawyer, Me Jean-Paul Moumbembe, highlighted the injustice she felt, declaring that her children had betrayed her by using her as an intermediary to solicit favors from the President of the Republic. He also criticized the competence of party officials to issue such a sanction, stressing that the commission in charge of this decision was acting unfairly.
For his part, the defense lawyer raised a legal exception called “lis pendens”, arguing that another procedure was already underway before the Constitutional Court. This exception calls into question the legitimacy of the current hearing and could potentially influence the course of the case.
This legal and political imbroglio highlights the tensions within the CEO and the power issues associated with it. The outcome of this affair remains uncertain, but it highlights the rivalries and internal struggles that can shake up political parties, even after a change of leadership.
It is essential to closely follow the development of this affair and analyze its implications for the country and for political stability in Gabon. The twists and turns to come promise to be rich in lessons on the complex nature of power relations in the Gabonese political context.