Corruption in Power

El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba ruled Gobon for 42 years till his death in 2009. He was the president of the (PDG) or the Gabonese Democratic Party. He has been crowned the longest serving non-monarch ruler, after Fidel left office in 2008. Bongo is considered the main reason for the greed and corruption in the Gabonese government. His past 3 elections, 1993, 1998, and 2005 were all considered to be rigged by his party to keep him in power. The last election bared little to no opposition for his opponents didn’t want to waist their money on an election they knew they wouldn’t win. There is now confusion in the country, as to who is going to take over Bongo’s place since his unexpected death almost a year ago on June 8th 2009. The government is set up in different sections but all under the president. There is Parliament (Parlement) which has two chambers, The National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) which has 120 members, 111 of those members are elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies and nine members appointed by the president. The Senate (Sénat) has 91 members, elected for a six year term in single-seat constituencies by local and departmental councillors.

Security Taken

A call is made to the security shack near the gate, a heavy deadlock is lifted follow by a small bold lock to be slid to the right, before the big green metal door is able to be moved to allow the missionary van to enter. Two guards stand post near this entrance, the only entrance and exit during the day, and one gigantic man at night. The wall that surrounds the house is at least 10ft. tall and 2ft thick, thus it doesn’t allow any to look in or climb over. Each guard posted has a machete str4apped to their side for guardian purposes. Though no problem occurred during our stay, the idea of not protecting American youth from the dangers of African poverty is unwise. Fortunately people don’t think like that, but similar views are shared. In talking with the missionary who assisted us during our stay for this project, I was able to get some off the top of his head stats. “Around 80% of missionary homes in Africa have a fortress and guards on shifts. Around 30% get attacked every rear, and 89% of those times out of country students are present on missionary trips.

Junior

Junior is a 19 year old Gabonese male living in Libreville with his parents and brother. His family owns what they would call a house, but to use living in Bronxville might consider the size of 3 garages combined. They live easy not having to worry about finances due to a steady paycheck supplied by his father’s employer. His family dresses in modern clothes but African and Western. Western fashions include Hawk, Hollister, and American Eagle. Do not mistake there being these companies present in the country, the clothes are brought over by giving missionaries or sold in stores who buy the clothes from places like Salvation Army. Junior owns a television and a Playstation with numerous compatible games. Due to the fact that these are rare and very valuable items along with several other objects in their house they have constructed a fortress around their house. A 7ft tall 1ft thick cement wall surrounds there house, unfortunately since the average teenage boy is tall they need to add more to make sure others don’t simply jump over. In the construction they added broken glass and strands of barbed wire to the top making it a dangerous surface. One cannot climb over the wall without serious injury. This is not uncommon to the housing of the locals.