Boom Now, Bust Later?

October 2007 | Risk Summary

President Omar Bongo is a mostly benign ruler whose grip on power is based on patronage, control of the armed forces, and support from France, which sees his regime as force for stability in a troubled region. Few dare to directly criticise Bongo, but members of his government do not get off as lightly. In our view, they are prone to overreaction, as happened recently when the arts and culture minister ordered the suspension of two publications that had questioned the administration's performance. The move has been widely condemned abroad, but the reality is that there is little political space

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