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Omar Bongo Quotes

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About Omar Bongo

Omar Bongo (born Ali Omar Bongo Ondimba), one of Africa's longest-serving leaders, was born on January 30, 1935, in Mbini, Gabon. His political career began when he joined the French colonial administration and later became a member of the African Democratic Rally (RDA) party. In 1960, Bongo was appointed Minister of Interior and Defense under Léon M'BA, Gabon's first president. Upon M'BA's death in 1967, Bongo seized power in a bloodless coup, making him the youngest African head of state at that time. He ruled Gabon until his death in 2009, serving for an impressive 42 years. Bongo's rule was marked by a combination of authoritarianism and modernization efforts, such as expanding the infrastructure, education, and healthcare sectors. However, criticism arose regarding human rights abuses, corruption, and nepotism. In the literary realm, Bongo published several works under the pseudonym "Jacques-René de Betto" between 1963 and 1985. His major works include "La Tête d'un Homme" (The Head of a Man), "Le Marabout de la Mer" (The Sea Marabout), and "Un Homme, Une Ville, Une Afrique" (One Man, One City, Africa). These novels reflect his experiences as a politician and his thoughts on African politics and society. Despite the controversy surrounding his political career, Omar Bongo's literary works offer insights into the mind of one of Africa's most enduring leaders. His legacy continues to be debated, with some viewing him as a modernizer who stabilized Gabon while others see him as an autocrat.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"La prudence est la sagesse des vainqueurs." (Prudence is the wisdom of winners.)

This quote emphasizes that prudence, or careful caution, is a key quality exhibited by successful individuals or groups. In other words, winners are wise because they have learned from experience, making thoughtful decisions to avoid unnecessary risks and secure their victories. Prudence ensures lasting success by considering potential outcomes and making strategic choices based on knowledge, foresight, and a deep understanding of the situation at hand.

"Le pouvoir n'est pas un objet d'usage courant." (Power is not an everyday item.)

This quote by Omar Bongo suggests that power, as a concept or resource, is not something common or ordinary; it's rare and unique. It implies that the acquisition and wielding of power requires special skills, understanding, and responsibility, and that it should be treated with care due to its potential impact on others. The quote serves as a reminder that those who possess power have a significant influence on society, and thus they must use it ethically and thoughtfully.

"L'état c'est moi." (I am the state.) - a paraphrase of Louis XIV, attributed to Bongo by critics.

This quote is a paraphrase of King Louis XIV's famous statement, "L'État, c'est moi" ("I am the State"). It was attributed to Omar Bongo, the former president of Gabon, by his critics, who accused him of having an autocratic rule where he considered himself above the state and its institutions. In essence, the quote represents a leader who views the nation as an extension of their personal power, prioritizing self-interest over national interests.

"Je suis un homme qui tient à la paix et à l'unité de notre nation." (I am a man who values peace and unity in our nation.)

This quote from Omar Bongo emphasizes his commitment to maintaining peace and fostering unity within his nation, reflecting a strong sense of duty towards the well-being and harmony of his people and country. It suggests a leader who prioritized cooperation over conflict, stability over instability, and national cohesion over divisiveness.

"Il faut que chaque Gabonais sente qu'il appartient à un pays prospère, où il peut travailler et jouir d'une sécurité sociale digne de son nom." (Every Gabonese must feel that they belong to a prosperous country where they can work and enjoy a social security worthy of their name.)

This quote by Omar Bongo emphasizes the importance of every citizen in Gabon feeling connected to a thriving nation, with opportunities for employment and access to a dignified social safety net. In essence, it's about fostering a sense of belonging, progress, and security within the society, ensuring that each individual can contribute to and benefit from their country's prosperity.

Do not forget that the Arab countries, starting with Algeria and Egypt, are the ones that have paid the heaviest toll because of Islamic terror.

- Omar Bongo

Egypt, Terror, Islamic, Algeria

But the Western countries that link their partnership with the poorest countries with respect for democracy also have to consider that they have obligations towards these countries.

- Omar Bongo

Partnership, Link, Western Countries

Globalization, far from putting an end to power diplomacy between States, has, on the contrary, intensified it.

- Omar Bongo

Diplomacy, Far, Putting, Intensified

The African Union has to act in order to put an end to armed conflicts that undermine the continent, to fight against the devastation caused by AIDS and other contagious diseases, to promote sustainable development of its member states.

- Omar Bongo

Other, Undermine, Continent, Contagious

Therefore, every country has to understand that fighting against international terrorism is not for the sake of the United States, but for the sake of themselves, and, to a larger extent, in the name of stability of international relations.

- Omar Bongo

Country, Larger, Extent, Relations

The birth of the African Union should encourage us to reexamine relations between African States.

- Omar Bongo

Encourage, Should, African, Relations

The principle of responsibility and collective sanctions is incompatible with the Western concept of justice.

- Omar Bongo

Principle, Incompatible, Sanctions

But it is important to observe that when Europe or the United Nations impose sanctions that are supposed to be aimed against a certain regime, usually generally millions of people end up being directly punished.

- Omar Bongo

United, United Nations, Sanctions

Economic sanctions rarely achieve the desired results.

- Omar Bongo

Achieve, Desired, Rarely, Sanctions

Certainly, Africa accounts for only l % of world trade, and we cannot assure our development on our own.

- Omar Bongo

Africa, Certainly, We Cannot, Accounts

I am in favor of complete freedom of information and of free access to the new communication tools, in particular the Internet.

- Omar Bongo

Communication, New, Access, Complete Freedom

But since independence, Gabon is one of the few countries in Central Africa that enjoys peace and stability.

- Omar Bongo

Peace, Africa, Central, Stability

Instead of ideological objectives of a political nature, today we are faced with ideological objectives of economic nature.

- Omar Bongo

Nature, Today, Ideological, Faced

From the time of independences until the end of the Cold War, in spite of the participation of a considerable number of African states in the non-aligned movement, everyone in fact chose to align with one or another of the two major blocks.

- Omar Bongo

Fact, Participation, Another, Cold War

It is not right to associate the fight against international terrorist networks with an imaginary crusade against Islam.

- Omar Bongo

Islam, Crusade, Imaginary, International

In spite of our poverty and our economic dependence, we do not have to give in, neither because we are sometimes abandoned nor because of the wish of some nations to impose their economic or political models.

- Omar Bongo

Give, Some, Models, Dependence

My actions to promote peace, the mediation missions which I carried out during many conflicts, which very often occurred between brothers of the same country, are not driven by any ulterior motives or any calculations based on personal ambitions.

- Omar Bongo

Country, Brothers, Very, Conflicts

For about ten years now, the struggle for democracy and the respect of human rights has been in the focus point - if not a commodity - of political groups aiming to rise to power.

- Omar Bongo

Been, About, Commodity, Human Rights

When they favor the access of other people to education and health care, the countries of the North not only demonstrate generosity or solidarity, but also implement the principles of respecting and promoting human rights.

- Omar Bongo

Access, Other, Promoting, Human Rights

There is an idea of democracy produced by one-sided thinking.

- Omar Bongo

Thinking, One-Sided, Idea, Produced

The shock caused by the September 11 events has also lead to a thorough reflection on the existing disparity between rich and poor countries, on the misery of populations of the South.

- Omar Bongo

Reflection, Poor Countries, Disparity

I'm not aiming for the Nobel Peace Prize!

- Omar Bongo

Peace, Nobel Peace Prize, Aiming

If the Soviet Union and the United States have not experienced direct military confrontations, on the other hand, they supported, armed and trained Africans, to fight other Africans.

- Omar Bongo

Other, United States, Experienced

It is important to stress: Africa is also a victim of the September 11 attacks.

- Omar Bongo

Stress, Important, Africa, September

It is up to African leaders to show their will and political courage in order to assure that this new pan-African institution becomes an efficient instrument and not a place for endless discussions.

- Omar Bongo

New, Will, Efficient, Assure

The world is now aware that the most unavoidable and most dangerous weapon that exists is the blind decisiveness of a man ready to sacrifice his life for an obscure cause.

- Omar Bongo

Sacrifice, Blind, Dangerous, Unavoidable

Because the world is in economic recession, which worsened since this drama happened, and our country will bear the burden of all of these consequences.

- Omar Bongo

Country, Will, Which, Recession

The resources of our continent attract, more than ever, the interests of rich countries.

- Omar Bongo

More, Continent, Ever, Interests

In brief, Western democracy, as other political models, is not exportable to all regions of the world.

- Omar Bongo

Other, Brief, Models, Western

The introduction of political pluralism often quickly led to bad results.

- Omar Bongo

Bad, Quickly, Pluralism, Introduction

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