Article

Evictions in Libreville: Towards a More Humane and Coherent Approach

For several weeks, eviction operations in the areas behind the National Assembly, Plain Orety, and other peripheral neighborhoods of Libreville have continued in an atmosphere of tension, misunderstanding, and pain. Entire families find themselves on the street without structured social support or immediate rehousing solutions. This scene of desolation is both concerning and unsettling.

It’s undeniable that the modernization of Libreville and other Gabonese cities is a national priority. It’s also true that chaotic urbanization, often facilitated by a certain institutional laxity over the years, cannot persist without serious consequences for the safety, sanitation, and harmony of our urban spaces. But should this process be carried out with brutality, without regard for the social realities of the populations concerned?

Testimonies abound: children in the middle of exams displaced during their revisions, chronically ill individuals forced to sleep outside, entire families homeless, wandering between hope and disillusionment in a context marked by a severe housing crisis and soaring rents. Finding a roof has become a luxury for the most vulnerable. The social emergency is very real.

If these operations are conducted without humane and inclusive planning, they risk generating more frustration than results. They expose the state to a deficit of trust and to attempts at political exploitation by those whom the NGO TERRITOIRE rightly calls “sellers of illusions.”

The Ministry of Public Works, the executing agency for these actions, should not operate in isolation. The complexity of the social situations of displaced families requires stronger inter-institutional coordination. The Ministry of Social Affairs, humanitarian associations, banks, property owners, and state lawyers should all be involved in these operations to ensure their legality, humanity, and sustainability.

We call for a complete overhaul of the eviction procedure in our country. This is not about abandoning the need to modernize our cities, but about rejecting brutal approaches and acting with discernment and responsibility. National cohesion and the unity of the Gabonese people must never be sacrificed on the altar of urban development.

In this perspective, it is essential to remember that the President of the Republic, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, is a statesman concerned with preserving the national cohesion regained since the liberation coup of August 30, 2023. His vision of a more just and united Gabon, rooted in the principles of dignity and solidarity, must inspire all government actions, including in situations of social emergency. It is by acting with humanity and coherence that we will honor this spirit of national renewal.

Here are some concrete suggestions for better framing these operations:

• Provision of transitional rehousing spaces, such as stadiums or community centers, while permanent solutions are sought.
• Payment of three months’ rent for each family, covered by the Ministry of Social Affairs, in pre-identified housing.
• Creation of a social mediation unit to accompany each operation, with the presence of social workers, lawyers, and representatives of civil society.
• A national register of eviction-risk zones, regularly updated, allowing populations to better anticipate and authorities to plan more effectively.

There is still time to correct the course. Gabon needs urbanization, yes, but also social justice. It needs modern cities, but also lasting peace. The NGO TERRITOIRE therefore calls on all state actors to rethink the current strategy so that it meets the social and human challenges of our time.

Because if the state guarantees order, it also guarantees the dignity of every citizen.

For the Strategic Committee, The Founding President