Mgg calls for immediate release of Gabon’s former prime minister
In a bold stance blending unwavering support for President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguéma and an unyielding defense of the Gabonese people, the Movement for the Greatness of Gabon (MGG)—led by its President, Christian Mermance N’nang Nsome—has issued a public appeal for the immediate and unconditional release of Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nzé. The opposition leader, who heads Ensemble Pour le Gabon (EPG), has been detained at the Central Prison of Libreville since April 2026 on allegations of fraud involving five million West African CFA francs.
Why the MGG is demanding justice and accountability
The MGG’s call for Bilie-By-Nzé’s release is rooted in two core convictions: the preservation of justice in Gabon and the protection of democratic gains secured through the collective struggles of over 100 political formations. The group warns that several parties now face dissolution under the country’s new political party regulations, further eroding the nation’s fragile democratic framework.
A voice for the voiceless: Mermance N’nang Nsome’s personal crusade
Christian Mermance N’nang Nsome, MGG President, frames his advocacy not as a defense of an individual but as a fulfillment of his own expectations for Gabon’s political class, civil society, and media. He draws a parallel between his own seven-month detention—which he describes as illegal and unjust—and the current plight of Bilie-By-Nzé. His refusal to remain silent, even as a declared ally of the head of state, underscores his commitment to justice over blind allegiance.
« My detention wrecked my life and health, leaving deep scars that still haunt me today. Yet, those who wield power seem untouched by remorse, treating human lives as disposable pawns in their political games, » Mermance N’nang Nsome reflects.
An urgent appeal to Gabon’s judiciary
Calling for magistrates to uphold the law without fear or favor, Mermance N’nang Nsome urges the courts to deliver justice in Bilie-By-Nzé’s case—just as they eventually did in his own. He warns that the judiciary’s credibility hinges on its ability to resist political pressure and act impartially, especially in a climate where free speech is increasingly criminalized under the guise of public order.
« If silence is complicity, then I refuse to be complicit. Yesterday, it was me; today, it’s Bilie-By-Nzé. Who will it be tomorrow? » he poses, highlighting the growing climate of fear and repression in Gabon.
Elliott Ana Merveille
