Ill-gotten gains in Gabon – Bongo Case
For justice beyond
borders
Why ill-gotten gains in Gabon?
Sherpa recalls that, any person accused or prosecuted by a national or international jurisdiction is presumed innocent until found guilty by a final court decision. In this respect, an appealable decision does not constitute a final decision.
In 1967, Omar Bongo became President of Gabon. During his term of office, for almost 42 years, the president was suspected of corruption, given his numerous real estate properties and close links with the oil companies operating in Gabon. While suspicions of corruption continue to surround members of the Bongo family, his son Ali Bongo succeeds him after his death in 2009. In France, real property belonging to some members of the Bongo family could be the result of misappropriation of public funds committed during Omar Bongo’s reign.
This case illustrates the undeniable link between grand corruption and the hindrance to development in a country that is rich in natural resources, ranking 112th out of 189 countries on the Human Development Index in 2021. This case also questions the role of banks such as BNP Paribas in facilitating corruption practices.
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Key dates
Impact
Why initiate legal action?
The law is a tool of power in a globalised world. It underpins power relations and encourages impunity for the most powerful. Because of their transnational nature, or the political and economic stakes involved, many violations escape justice. Bringing cases before the courts means putting the debate back on a legal footing, giving a voice to the people affected and thus restoring the legal tool to social movements.
Thanks to the work of NGOs and journalists, the consequences of globalisation are increasingly being documented and denounced. Our legal actions make it possible to initiate an contentious proceedings, establish the facts and apply the rules of law to these situations. They also aim to provide practical solutions by putting a stop to violations, holding the players concerned responsible and/or enabling victims to obtain compensation.
In support of our advocacy and in parallel with our legal laboratory and capacity-sharing activities, our legal actions are designed to contribute to wider and lasting change. They fuel public debate to highlight the limits of the legal framework and the obstacles facing the victims of globalised capitalism. They set precedents that shape a more protective legal framework.
