Libreville, Thursday August 17, 2023 (Infos Gabon) – In his traditional message on the eve of the celebration of Independence to the Nation delivered this Wednesday, the Head of State promised families an affordable return to school in 2023, the continuation of major infrastructure projects and more secure elections, among others. Ali Bongo Ondimba’s entire speech.
Gabonese, Gabonese, My dear compatriots,
It is with immense emotion that I address you on the occasion of the celebration of the independence of this country that I love so much, that we love so much: our country, Gabon.
First of all, I would like to tell you how attached I am to being able to take this time of communion with you on the occasion of this date dear to our hearts, August 17th.
As a man, there are moments that matter. Today is one of those times. And my emotion is all the greater as I speak to you as we are about to turn the page on the second chapter of our common history.
First of all, I would like to say thank you.
Thank you for this immense honor which is mine
to be your President.
To be the guarantor and protector of our national republican union.
Yes ! It is a huge honor. The honor of a lifetime.
The load of a life.
The mission of a lifetime.
And I measure how much this honor, this charge, this mission commits me every day for you.
Indeed, my dear compatriots, to be President of the Republic is to be confronted with crucial decisions that impact lives and a Nation.
It is sometimes being confronted with the unthinkable, with tragedy, with dramas that we would never want to be confronted with.
I experienced it this year.
I have a special thought for Philippine and for our other compatriots who were recently victims of a hostage-taking in Mandji.
I also have a thought for the brave gendarmes, two of whom were injured during the rescue operations.
Today, I want to speak through them to all those whom life has not spared; to all those whom she has sometimes broken and to express to them my deepest sympathy.
I also want to address all the families of our country Gabon because I can unfortunately measure how complicated these last few months have been for everyone.
I measure the sacrifices. Cost of living fatigue. I know there is also sometimes impatience. The feeling that we could have done better.
But I also know one thing, I’ve said it and I’ll say it again: together we remain a strong, united people, respectful of all its citizens. And this, despite the storms.
Because your personal lives are infinitely important to me, I want to assure you that every day I do everything I can to help you live better through concrete, tangible, visible results.
For you, within the Special Economic Zone of Nkok 20,000 direct and indirect jobs have been created.
For you, 2 billion CFA francs have been devoted to income-generating activities and more than 3,000 files are being processed.
For you, more than 7 billion CFA francs have been allocated to the micro-credit program to support those who, through their work and the spirit of enterprise, contribute every day to building the future of our country.
To date, nearly 2,000 new files for a value of 2 billion have already been validated as part of this ambitious program.
For you, more than 7 billion CFA francs, still make it possible every day to maintain the price of a baguette at 125 CFA francs and, more than 400 billion CFA francs contribute to containing the price of fuel, oil and the gas bottle.
For you, 67 basic food products have been exempted from import duties and taxes.
For you, we have worked to keep free
buses in Greater Libreville and, we are already
mobilized to extend it to all the provincial capitals following the example of Lambaréné.
Behind these figures, which cannot repair all the wounds but relieve and soothe them, there is a whole country mobilized, committed to getting out of it. To create value. To breathe.
A Nation which, with courage, unity, self-sacrifice, remains united to protect its children.
And for all these reasons I am proud to be your President. I am proud to be the President of Gabonese men and women who are facing up because that is how our country is!
However in the current circumstances, I understand that the expectation is high and that supporting you is my moral requirement.
This is why I announce to you my dear compatriots that from the next school year the price of uniforms will be capped; tuition and school registration fees will be reduced by 25%; and textbooks will be totally free for primary and pre-primary classes.
Yes, totally free. To ensure that every child, every family, everywhere in our territory has equal access to education.
Because equal opportunities and access to knowledge should not weigh on your monthly income in an already constrained budgetary context, the State will take on this republican responsibility.
This is in order to continue and perpetuate its achievements in terms of social justice. Acquises which have enabled it, generation after generation, to maintain the education of girls and sons from all the provinces or even to preserve this haven of peace and security in which each child of the Nation has been able to grow, move, undertake, live simply.
This consolidation of social justice is also expressed through the improvement and legitimate securing of our daily environment. This is why I will continue the National Urban Public Lighting Program with the commissioning of 4,000 lampposts and in the coming weeks we will open the Libreville bypass.
This long-awaited route will relieve congestion in the north of our capital and save time
essential in our daily lives while contributing to the development of a modern, attractive and globalized national capital.
We will also continue the road works whose progress is already visible in Ndendé, Tchibanga, Mayumba, Forasol, Mbega, Ovan, Makokou, Moanda Bakoumba or Ntoum to connect each province to the national networks and ensure accessibility to employment in the territories.
We will continue the rehabilitation of health and educational structures with the aim of organizing the rebalancing of public services on the national territory.
Very soon, more than 1,000 new police officers will be recruited. To strengthen local policing with police present on the ground and close to citizens.
Together with all the living forces of the Nation, we are capable of writing, chapter by chapter, concrete achievement by concrete achievement, a great History.
My dear compatriots,
Before leaving us and allowing you to celebrate a very beautiful national holiday with family and friends, I would like to take a few seconds to solemnly remind you that our country will be called to the polls in the very next few days.
For the first time general elections will be organised. On the same day, you will vote for your President, your deputies, your local elected officials.
For our Nation it is a great moment of democracy.
For everyone, it is the opportunity to prove to the world that we are a people who will always choose peace, the choice of union, the choice of dialogue.
All the defense and security forces of our Nation will be called upon to protect your voices, protect your choices, protect your homes and homes. Everything will be done for this purpose so that the Republic always wins.
As our continent has been rocked in recent weeks by violent crises, rest assured that
I will never allow you and our country Gabon to be hostages to attempts at destabilization. Never.
Also, I invite each and every one of you to go to the polls and vote in peace and for peace for today and tomorrow.
In the meantime, my very dear compatriots, I wish you all a very happy national holiday.
God bless youand bless Gabon!
Thank you.
FIN/INFOSGABON/SM/2029
Copyright Infos Gabon
