AFRICA/GABON - Two days of prayer and penance for the future of Gabon

Monday, 10 July 2023 local churches elections peace

GABON

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2023-07-10
Two days of prayer and penance for the future of Gabon

Libreville (Agenzia Fides) - In preparation for the election of a new President, the Catholic Church in Gabon organized two ecumenical days of prayer and penance for the country on July 7th and 8th. The two days of penance were experienced through reflection on the themes: "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near" and "Church of Gabon, arise! Serve your God". The initiative was announced by Archbishop Jean Patrick Iba-Ba of Libreville on his Facebook page: "Recalling the mission of every prophet, Ezekiel declares that: the prophet warns the people (Ezekiel 33,6); and strengthened by the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, the Church reminds us that the Christan community realizes that it is truly linked with mankind and its history by the deepest of bonds (GS, n. 1). Therefore, in the prevailing social context, and aware of the challenges of the times for our country Gabon, we declare Friday 7 July 2023 and Saturday 8 July 2023 Days of prayer and penance for our country". The initiative was launched in cooperation with the Evangelical Church. For the first day of prayer and fasting of this kind, the Catholic faithful first gathered in the "Petit Séminaire St. Jean de Libreville", while the Protestant Christians in the "Paroisse des 9 étages" in the Gabonese capital.
On Saturday 8 July, all Christians gathered at the Catholic high school Msgr. Jean-Rémi Bessieux for an ecumenical celebration. In addition, the faithful were invited to do penance, pray the Rosary and attend Masses and prayers of intercession for the nation. The prayer initiative was launched as a reminder that a wave of violence erupted in the country following the announcement of Ali Bongo Ondimba's re-election as President of Gabon on August 31, 2016.
According to official data, at least five people were killed in the clashes, while part of the opposition and civil society claimed to have counted about thirty dead. On Sunday July 8, Ali Bongo Ondimba announced that he will run for a third term in the presidential election on August 26. He had succeeded his father Omar Bongo on his death in 2009, continuing the power of a family dynasty that began in 1967 with the installation of then Albert-Bernard Bongo, who changed his name to El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba after his conversion to Islam. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 10/7/2023)