Gabon’s MGG urges immediate release of imprisoned opposition leader

As a staunch advocate for President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguéma and a vocal defender of the Gabonese people, the Mouvement pour la Grandeur du Gabon (MGG) and its leader, Christian Mermance N’nang Nsome, have issued a bold call for the unconditional release of Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nzé, former Prime Minister and current President of the opposition party Ensemble Pour le Gabon (EPG). Bilie-By-Nzé has been detained at Libreville’s central prison since April 2026, facing allegations of fraud involving five million CFA francs.

Justice and democracy at stake, says MGG

The MGG’s demand stems from its unwavering commitment to safeguarding justice and preserving the hard-won democratic gains that 102 political formations have struggled to achieve. The group warns that these gains are now under threat, citing the latest political party law that could lead to the dissolution of some parties.

Christian Mermance N’nang Nsome’s personal stance

Christian Mermance N’nang Nsome, MGG President, has made it clear his call for Bilie-By-Nzé’s release is not about defending an individual but upholding the principles he expected from Gabon’s political class, civil society, and media during his own seven-month detention at the central prison in Libreville. He rejects being labeled as a blind supporter, or ‘kounabéliste’, despite his public backing of the Head of State.

Emphasizing the importance of justice in Gabon, he urges magistrates to prioritize fairness in the Bilie-By-Nzé case, stating they must deliver justice as they did during his own ordeal.

A harrowing ordeal and its lingering scars

Reflecting on the severe toll his imprisonment took on his personal life and that of his loved ones, Christian Mermance N’nang Nsome reveals he is now battling a fragile state of health since his release. He expresses dismay at those who wield power without remorse or accountability.

Despite the potential backlash and ostracism in a politically volatile climate where free speech is increasingly equated with public disorder, he refuses to remain silent. His defiance is rooted in a refusal to be complicit, both in the eyes of God and history. “Yesterday it was me, today it’s Bilie-By-Nzé; who will it be tomorrow?”, he cautions.