BRICE CLOTAIRE OLIGUI NGUEMA, Transitional President of Gabon, said his country has just celebrated the first anniversary of the Liberation Coup, having kept the promises to establish transitional institutions, release prisoners of conscience, ensure permanent inclusivity, hold an inclusive national dialogue and draft a new constitution.  “The next step is to organize the referendum in the coming months, the adoption of an electoral code and the revision of the electoral register,” he noted, adding that all of this progress supported by the people of Gabon contributes to a progressive return to the constitutional order through free, transparent and peaceful elections as soon as possible.  He went on to mention significant reforms undertaken in sectors that directly affect human development:  roads, health-care centres, schools, the return of school grants, the opening of competitions for major universities, the lifting of recruitment freeze and the payment of pension arrears.

He thanked all partners, friendly countries, and national and international donors for supporting this transition process despite its difficulties.  “On the day after the Liberation Coup of 30 August 2023, that was carried out without bloodshed, we advocated for the preservation of peace and for national unity by appealing to all stakeholders of the nation, whatever their origins, their beliefs or their social status, in an effort to build a fairer and more prosperous Gabon,” he recalled. He stressed that respect for life, territorial integrity, the sovereignty of States to freely choose their partners and rejection of violence — all favour peacebuilding.

Turning to environmental issues, he reminded that Gabon has dedicated 13 national parks to the service of humanity, thus contributing to the absorption of more than 100 million net tons of CO2 per year and the preservation of threatened species.  “Nevertheless, this does not mean in any way that we are bypassing the expectations of our population who are focused on their basic needs being met,” he specified, reminding industrialized nations of the need to truly respect their commitments by supporting the countries that host the greatest carbon reservoirs in the world.

Urging to provide appropriate responses to the numerous conflicts in the world, particularly in Africa, he welcomed the adoption of resolution 2719 (2023) on the financing of peace support operations led by the African Union.  “Its implementation is a categorical imperative,” he emphasized, also voicing support to the efforts of the Secretary-General of the United Nations aimed at providing a realistic, pragmatic and sustainable political solution for the Moroccan Sahara.  He welcomed the official announcement by the United States of its support for the admission of two African States as permanent members of the Security Council.  “However, Africa is expecting broader support from other permanent members of the Security Council for this initiative and at the same time we expect access for African members to the right to veto,” he said, also urging not to avert the gaze from Gaza with a view to the harmonious existence of the Palestinian and Israeli States and to lift the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed on Cuba.  “Together, let us pool our efforts in a hope of a better future by acting in a different way in order to preserve the human race,” he concluded.