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Civil war in Africa. This simple four word phrase seems to sum
up the perception of most outsiders throughout the world when
asked about the state of affairs on the African continent, the
birth place of mankind. In the last 40 years twenty countries,
or almost 50 percent of all nations south of the Sahara, have
experienced at least one period of civil war. This state of
affairs has stereotyped Africa as a doomed continent rife with
ethnic and tribal conflict.

Though many attribute the source of these various conflicts to
ethnic and tribal differences, researchers at The World Bank
concluded, after a careful study, that failure at both a
political and economic level are at the root cause of most civil
conflicts. Ibrahim Elbadaur and Nicholas Sambanis wrote that
political and economic development can effectively reduce or
eradicate political violence in Africa.

Enter Gabon, which seems to be at the eye of this tumultuous
African storm. Gabon is one of the few countries in Central
Africa that has never — since its independence from France –
been affected by an armed conflict. Gabon, an oil-rich Central
African nation, with a population of 1,300,000 and a geographic
area of 26,700 square kilometers, is considered one of the most
stable in the region.

For almost 40 years, El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba has served as
President of the West African coastal country of Gabon. Under
his leadership, Gabon has become one of Africa’s wealthiest and
more prosperous countries fueled in part by the discovery of
oil. According to the World Fact Book, Gabon enjoys a per capita
income four times that of most nations of sub-Saharan Africa.

Critics attribute much of Bongo’s success to his strong arming
of the political system and his use of patronage throughout his
own political party. It is hard to argue with his success
however in keeping Gabon out of armed conflict with rival
factions within the country.

Bongo rose quickly within the leadership structure of Gabon. He
entered civil service in 1958, was promoted to Minister of
Information and Tourism in 1966, and was named Vice-President in
1967. He took over the office of President a year later at the
age of 32 after Leon M’ba, the country’s first president, became
ill and died suddenly.

Despite the troubles in the headlines of papers throughout the
world concerning Gabon’s neighbors like Cameroon, Congo,
Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, and Zaire, Gabon has been a rock of
stability. Although the country was initially constituted around
a one party system in the early 60’s, Bongo prodded the country
to a multiparty democracy by 1990. Although it would have served
him to maintain the single party system, Bongo legalized
opposition parties at that time and Gabon has been a model for
the rest of Africa since. Many have attributed the success story
of Gabon’s unprecedented peace, stability and economic status to
Bongo’s experience and leadership.

In the upcoming elections, in 2005, there has been some
controversy about the nature of the election process itself. The
opposition, headed by a former ally of President Bongo, Zacharie
Myboto, has been critical of the two day election process. He
points out that the military will be voting first, alluding to
the fact that this could somehow sway the general electorate.
However, the mere fact that the opposition can speak out against
Bongo, without fear of recrimination, is a testament to budding
democracy that is forming in Gabon under President Bongo’s
political leadership. Bongo is quick to remind his detractors
that it has taken the U.S. over two centuries to develop a
legitimate election process. He also points out that many
Americans still have concerns over the fairness of both
statewide and national elections.

President Bongo has not solely focused all his efforts on
political change. He has also been a true early adopter where
the rights of women in his own country are concerned. Due to the
actions of Gabon’s President real social reforms have occurred
focused on equal opportunity for women. Bongo institutionalized
the observance of women’s rights and parity. He instituted
compulsory schooling of all girls age 6 to 16 years. He created
a Ministry for the Family, child welfare and promotion of the
woman, and the protection of widows and the orphans. “Where the
men have failed the women must succeed”, stated Bongo on many
occasions.

The President of Gabon has also been credited for his efforts to
restore peace and stability throughout Central Africa, in
particular the Republic of the Congo, Chad, the Central African
Republic and Sao Tome and Principe. In October 2001, the former
President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, serving as mediator
in the political and ethnic crisis of Burundi, entrusted Bongo
with the mission to pursue negotiations with the armed movements
of Burundi. Mr. Mandela has great respect and appreciation for
President Bongo as Bongo was one of the few who supported him
financially during his exile.

Recently Bongo, co-chaired the 60th anniversary of the United
Nations, alongside Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson, which
was held in September, 2005. Bongo opened the event with an
appeal for worldwide action to prevent conflict and genocide.
Bongo also focused his efforts on the plight of Africa, seeking
more support for the promotion of human rights and conflict
resolution. The 38 year president of Gabon, echoed the sentiment
of Sweden’s Prime Minister, calling on the Summit to “act
together to give our future generations a better world.”

The leader of Gabon has always had a strong interest in the
welfare of those of African decent who now reside in the United
States. Bongo, though a practicing Muslim, sought the assistance
of Rodney Sampson CEO of The Intellect Group and founder of the
World Christian Times, to develop a presence in the US whereby
the Gabonese President could effect change in the lives of many
Americans. The Living Legacy Foundation, a US non-profit
organization based out of Atlanta and chaired by Bongo, has now
been launched to train and raise up one million young leaders in
the US, Africa and around the world.

The announcement of the organization has received broad support
from a number of world leaders in politics, faith and business,
including Bishop Mike Jocktane of France and Gabon and Bishop
Carlton Pearson of the US. “After I was approached by President
Bongo’s senior advisor Bishop Mike Jocktane, about representing
and advising the President in North America and Gabon, my firm
conducted extensive due diligence on both President Bongo and
his country.”, states Sampson. “Simply put, Bongo gets things
done and facilitates real change. This global leader doesn’t
just talk a good game, he delivers - locally and abroad. That is
refreshing when talking about any head of state”.

Living Legacy will target the pop and hip hop culture within the
US. “We will accomplish our goals and objectives through a
number of high profile international events, “train the trainer”
training techniques, organizational partnership and strategic
outreach,” said Rodney Sampson. “Our first major event,
Leadership 2006, will be held next year in Atlanta.”

In direct contrast to how President Bongo’s political opposition
in the upcoming election portrays him, Bongo’s inaugural event
for the Living Legacy Foundation, LEADERSHIP 2006 is a major
highly progressive global leadership event bringing together
prominent leaders in business, politics, religion and government
from all faiths, creeds and disciplines. Some dignitaries,
celebrities and other prominent figures that have been invited
to participate are: Former South African President Nelson
Mandela; former US President Bill Clinton; Reverend Jessie
Jackson; The Honorable Minister Lewis Farrakhan; Rick Warren;
John Maxwell; actor Chris Tucker; Bono; and Kanye West. This
divergent group will converge in Atlanta to exchange, contribute
and plan the execution of real ongoing activities for
cultivating tomorrow’s leadership.

Despite criticism from his opponents, it seems that President
Bongo’s growing legacy is one of “stable change for the better”.
It is not always the loudest in the group that gets the most
done. Sometimes the person who has been around the longest is
the one who can get results in the real world. That about sums
up Gabon and the leader of this Island of Tranquility, Omar
Bongo.

Bruce Prokopets Executive Editor Press Direct International