The Mouvement pour la Grandeur du Gabon (MGG) and its President, Christian Mermance N’nang Nsome, have issued a strong call for the immediate release of Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nzé, former Prime Minister and current head of the opposition coalition Ensemble Pour le Gabon (EPG). Mr. Bilie-By-Nzé has been detained at the Central Prison of Libreville since April 2026 on charges of alleged embezzlement involving 5 million CFA francs.
Demand rooted in justice and democratic safeguards
The MGG frames its demand not as partisan support for Bilie-By-Nzé, but as a defense of the judiciary and the democratic gains painstakingly secured by over 102 political formations, some of which now face dissolution under the latest Gabon political parties law. According to the movement, preserving justice means ensuring fair treatment for all citizens, regardless of political affiliation.
Personal testimony fuels the call for accountability
Christian Mermance N’nang Nsome, who himself endured nearly seven months of detention at the Central Prison of Libreville, speaks from experience. His remarks underscore a deep commitment to national integrity, rejecting the role of a passive enabler despite his public backing of President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguéma. He emphasizes that the judiciary must uphold the law impartially, as it did during his own ordeal.
« My detention left deep scars—material losses, shattered health, and enduring trauma for my loved ones. Yet those in power appear untroubled by the human cost of their actions, treating lives as disposable. »
A warning against silence in troubled times
Even amid political uncertainty and shrinking civic freedoms, where dissent is increasingly equated with public disorder, N’nang Nsome refuses to remain silent. He warns that the erosion of justice for one individual today sets a dangerous precedent for others tomorrow. « Yesterday, it was me. Today, it is Bilie-By-Nzé. Who will be next? » he cautions.
