The Movement for the Greatness of Gabon (MGG) and its leader, Christian Mermance N’nang Nsome, have publicly demanded the unconditional release of Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nzé, President of the opposition coalition Ensemble Pour le Gabon (EPG), who has been held in Libreville Central Prison since April 2026 on charges of alleged embezzlement involving five million CFA francs.
In a statement released this week, the MGG framed its appeal around two core principles: safeguarding justice and protecting Gabon’s hard-won democratic gains, which the party argues are now under threat due to the new political party law that could lead to the dissolution of over 100 political formations.
«My stance isn’t about defending one person—it’s about fulfilling what I expected from Gabon’s political class, civil society, and media when I was unlawfully detained in Libreville Central Prison for nearly seven months,» declared Christian Mermance N’nang Nsome. Despite his open support for President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguéma, he refuses to adopt the role of a passive ally, often derogatorily referred to as a ‘’kounabéliste’’ in local parlance.
The MGG leader emphasized the judiciary’s duty to uphold the law impartially in the Bilie-By-Nzé case, urging magistrates to deliver justice without bias—just as they did during his own detention. «My imprisonment left deep personal and financial scars, and my health has never fully recovered since my release. Yet, those in power seem to treat human lives as disposable, without remorse or accountability,» he lamented.
In a climate of political uncertainty where dissent is increasingly criminalized under the guise of public order, Christian Mermance N’nang Nsome insists on speaking out, even at great personal risk. «First, it was me. Today, it’s Bilie-By-Nzé. Who will be next?» he warned, underscoring the broader implications of unchecked executive overreach.
