Gabon: Judges end nationwide strike February 26 /update 1

Event

Gabonese judges from the National Union of Magistrates (SYNAMAG) union officially ended their nationwide strike on Monday, February 26, after Prime Minister Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet announced that Minister of Justice Francis Nkéa Ndzigue would be removed from the post in a cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday, February 20. Ndzigue was subsequently reassigned to work in the Ministry of Housing, City, and Urbanism. Gabonese judges are expected to continue talks with the new Minister of Justice Edgar Anicet Mboumbou Miyakou to address outstanding demands from the strike in the coming days.

Context

Judges in Gabon launched a nationwide strike on December 14, 2017, to protest comments made by Ndzigue, who had accused the country's judges of corruption. The judges stated that they intended to continue their strike until Ndzigue resigned. On December 7, Ndzigue alleged that he had to pay a bribe of CFA 200,000 (USD 360) to a member of SYNAMAG.

Advice

All those present in Gabon are advised to monitor developments to the situation and avoid all public gatherings due to the risk of violence, which can flare up with little warning.