During Gabon’s 66th Independence Day celebrations, Joachim Mbatchi Pambou, President of the Forum for the Defense of the Republic (FDR) and a contender in the August 2023 presidential election, issued an official statement. In it, he urged all national forces to endorse a ‘National Consolidation Pact’. This initiative is presented as a framework designed to bring together patriotic citizens around Gabon’s core priorities.
The vision put forth by the FDR president is neither a proposal for power-sharing nor an appeal for the opposition to abandon its role. Instead, Joachim Mbatchi Pambou seeks to establish a collective commitment among the nation’s various active forces. “The aim is actually something much simpler, yet simultaneously much more demanding: to agree on the essentials,” he elaborated.
This proposition emerges amidst what Joachim Mbatchi Pambou perceives as a deteriorating public discourse. He specifically laments the transformation of political disagreements into personal animosities and calls upon all stakeholders to re-engage in respectful debate. “We can be political adversaries without becoming enemies. We can disagree without hating each other,” he asserted, imploring his compatriots to prioritize “the essentials.”
These “essentials,” according to Mbatchi Pambou, should encompass several critical national priorities: fostering civil peace and national cohesion, upholding institutions and the rule of law, promoting social justice, reducing inequalities, stimulating job creation, enhancing public services, and facilitating the local transformation of natural resources.
For the former 2023 presidential candidate, the proposed pact must also work towards rebuilding trust—between citizens and institutions, among political actors, and between Gabon and its diaspora. Specifically, it should aim to revitalize national dialogue, define priorities that transcend political transitions, and ensure accountability for commitments made.
Inclusivity
Joachim Mbatchi Pambou emphasizes that this initiative should not be confined solely to political figures. He advocates for an inclusive dialogue platform bringing together institutions, political entities, civil society organizations, the private sector, trade unions, religious denominations, academics, youth, women, and the diaspora. The ultimate goal would be to identify a limited set of national priorities, establish precise commitments, and enable citizens to regularly assess progress.
This shared responsibility, he contends, should involve all segments of society. The government, he suggests, ought to “listen more and be more accountable,” while the opposition should continue to offer constructive criticism alongside viable solutions. Civil society, the private sector, and the diaspora are also envisioned to play pivotal roles in this national endeavor.
Through this proposal, Joachim Mbatchi Pambou urges a departure from a mindset where every political divergence escalates into confrontation. He believes that Gabon’s development hinges not merely on its natural wealth or potential, but equally on its capacity to safeguard national cohesion. “No amount of wealth will ever replace national cohesion. Our primary wealth is our capacity to live together,” he concluded.
