PAULETTE Missambo, president of the National Union (UN) – like a relay runner – has just passed the baton to the vice-president of the party, Jeanine Taty Koumba, at the end of a meeting of the National Office which was held the past weekend.
According to the UN press release, this is purely and simply an interim period which will correspond to the duration of the current political transition. A modus operandi which is justified by the fact that only the Congress, the only body authorized to undertake a “definitive” change or not at the top, can put an end to the functions of the “native of Mulundu”.
Looking closely, this momentary passing of the torch hardly surprises observers of Gabonese political life. Better still, we would even be tempted to qualify it as a “non-event”, to use the expression abundantly used by activists of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) under the leadership of Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Republic deposed since the 30 last August.
We can understand that Paulette Missambo’s new responsibilities really do not allow her to “follow two hares at once”. Namely managing the Senate of the Transition and at the same time ensuring the daily running of his party, the National Union. On the other hand, in view of the context marked by the putting under cover of political divisions by the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), it would be good to question the new orientation of this opposition formation, under the old regime.
For now, Paulette Missambo has been co-opted by the new holders of power. There is no doubt that other activists will join the various bodies of the Transition. Let us hope that the “Unionists” will not allow themselves to be blinded by the “delights of power” and will continue to play the role of lookout and sentinel, as they did until the recent past.