Gabon

Gabon, though now had gained its independency from under the colonization of France, the influence of the French government still lingers on in the way the country runs. As some has called it ‘Pseudo-independence,’ Gabon is still heavily guided by France, especially while its government headed by leaders that are in the interest of its former ‘master.’ Some of the considerable examples of the French’s enduring domination over Gabon can be seen in both political and economical realms.

It has been said in an article criticizing the relationship between Gabon and France, that unless the French government admits its past wrong doings, the true independency of Gabon won’t be realized, and has accused the French government “of being complicit in the assassination or overthrow of democratically elected leaders, and of supporting dictators friendly to French national interests.” The law that has been issued not long ago by the Gabon government, which required Gabon “to keep France informed of all of its projects related to the exploitation of materials and strategic products outside of Gabon and required Gabon to give preference to France in all of its foreign sales,” leaving the country as practically France’s well of resources, also highlights the French dominion over not only Gabon’s past but the present and the future altogether. Though Gabon represents itself as an independent nation, it still remains under the shadow of the past colonialism under which it runs according to the rules that have been set by its former ‘lord,’ the enduring force that never seems to die away for a long time.

www.globalvoicesonline.org/2006/05/22/francophone-africa-bloggers-on-colonialisms-enduring-influence/