In the last 40 years, nearly 50 percent of all nations south of the Sahara, have experienced at least one period of civil war.
Though many associate the source of these different conflicts to ethnic and tribal differences, scientists at The World Bank concluded, after a cautious research study, that failure at both a political and economic level is at the origin of most civil disputes. Ibrahim Elbadaur and Nicholas Sambanis composed that political and economic development can successfully minimize or eradicate political violence in Africa.
Go into Gabon, which appears to be at the eye of this turbulent African storm. Gabon is one of the couples of countries in Central Africa that has never ever– because its self-reliance from France– been impacted by armed conflict. Gabon, an oil-rich Main African country, with a population of 1,300,000 and a geographic area of 26,700 square kilometers, is thought about among the most stable in the area.
For practically 40 years, El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba has actually functioned as President of the West African coastal nation of Gabon. Under his leadership, Gabon has actually become one of Africa’s most affluent and more flourishing nations sustained in part by the discovery of oil. According to the World Fact Book, Gabon delights in a per capita income four times that of many nations of sub-Saharan Africa.
Critics attribute much of Bongo’s success to his strong-arming of the political system and his usage of patronage throughout his own political party. It is hard to argue with his success nevertheless in keeping Gabon out of armed conflict with rival factions within the country.
Bongo rose quickly within the management structure of Gabon. He went into civil service in 1958, was promoted to Minister of Details and Tourism in 1966, and was called Vice-President in 1967. He took over the workplace of President a year later at the age of 32 after Leon M’ba, the nation’s first president, became ill and died suddenly.
It would have served him to maintain the single celebration system, Bongo legalized opposition celebrations at that time and Gabon has actually been a model for the rest of Africa given that. Lots of have actually associated the success story of Gabon’s unprecedented peace, stability and financial status to Bongo’s experience and management.
The opposition, headed by a previous ally of President Bongo, Zacharie Myboto, has been important of the 2-day election procedure. The mere fact that the opposition can speak out versus Bongo, without worry of recrimination, is a testament to budding democracy that is forming in Gabon under President Bongo’s political leadership. Bongo is fast to remind his critics that it has taken the U.S. over two centuries to establish a legitimate election process.
President Bongo has not entirely focused all his efforts on political change. He has actually likewise been a true early adopter where the rights of women in his own nation are concerned. Due to the actions of Gabon’s President, genuine social reforms have actually taken place focused on the level playing field for females. Bongo institutionalized the observance of females’ rights and parity. He instituted mandatory education of all ladies age 6 to 16 years. He produced a Ministry for the Household, kid well-being, and promotion of the female, and the defense of widows and the orphans. “Where the men have failed the females need to succeed”, specified Bongo on numerous events.
The President of Gabon has likewise been credited for his efforts to restore peace and stability throughout Central Africa, in particular, the Republic of the Congo, Chad, the Main African Republic, and Sao Tome and Principe. In October 2001, the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, serving as conciliator in the political and ethnic crisis of Burundi, delegated Bongo with the mission to pursue settlements with the armed motions of Burundi. Mr. Mandela has great regard and appreciation for President Bongo as Bongo was among the few who supported him economically throughout his exile.
Bongo opened the event with an appeal for around the world action to prevent conflict and genocide. Bongo also focused his efforts on the predicament of Africa, looking for more assistance for the promo of human rights and conflict resolution.
The leader of Gabon has constantly had a strong interest in the well-being of those of African good who now live in the United States. Bongo, though a practicing Muslim, looked for the assistance of Rodney Sampson CEO of The Intelligence Group and founder of the World Christian Times, to establish a presence in the United States whereby the Gabonese President might effect change in the lives of lots of Americans. The Living Tradition Foundation, a United States non-profit company based out of Atlanta and chaired by Bongo, has now been released to train and raise up one million young leaders in the US, Africa and worldwide.
The statement of the organization has received broad support from a number of world leaders in politics, faith, and company, including Bishop Mike Jocktane of France and Gabon and Bishop Carlton Pearson of the US. “Just put, Bongo gets things done and facilitates genuine change. That is refreshing when talking about any head of state”.
Living Tradition will target the pop and hip hop culture within the US. “We will accomplish our goals and goals through a number of high profile worldwide occasions, “train the trainer” training techniques, organizational partnership, and strategic outreach,” said Rodney Sampson. “Our first significant event, Management 2006, will be held next year in Atlanta.”
In direct contrast to how President Bongo’s political opposition in the upcoming election represents him, Bongo’s inaugural occasion for the Living Tradition Foundation, MANAGEMENT 2006 is a significant highly progressive international leadership event uniting popular leaders in service, politics, religious beliefs and government from all faiths, creeds, and disciplines. Some dignitaries, celebs and other popular figures that have actually been welcomed to participate are Former South African President Nelson Mandela; former United States President Bill Clinton; Reverend Jessie Jackson; The Honorable Minister Lewis Farrakhan; Rick Warren; John Maxwell; actor Chris Tucker; Bono; and Kanye West. This divergent group will assemble in Atlanta to exchange, contribute and prepare the execution of genuine continuous activities for cultivating tomorrow’s leadership.
Regardless of criticism from his challengers, it seems that President Bongo’s growing tradition is one of “stable modification for the better”. It is not constantly the loudest in the group that gets the most done. In some cases, the individual who has actually been around the longest is the one who can get results in the real world. That about summarize Gabon and the leader of this Island of Serenity, Omar Bongo.
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