On September 17, 2009, the coalition of opposition candidates for the August 30, 2009 presidential election in Gabon set up a fact-finding team in order to gather reliable testimonies regarding the events that have occurred in Port Gentil since the election results were announced on September 3, 2009. The fact-finding team was headed by Prof. Pierre André Kombila Koumbe, chairman of the National Rally of Woodcutters (RNB); and included the following members:
- Professor Joseph John-Nambo of Omar Bongo University;
- The Honorable Daniel Kombe Lekambo, a member of Parliament; and
- Mr. Jean Blaise Moussavou Maganga, a former mayor.
The team arrived in Port Gentil on September 18, 2009 and met for three days with the families of those who have been killed, as well as with those who had suffered abuse or injury. They also met with witnesses who had agreed to share their testimonies despite the climate of fear and law of silence that prevail in Port Gentil and is being enforced by the military.
This report focuses on three main points:
1 – Killings:
2 – Abuse; and
3 – Destruction of property .
Further down we will close with a note that seeks to capture the general mood of the population in Port Gentil.
We will highlight the three areas of focus with specific examples on a case by case basis.
1 – Killings
Case 1: Mr. Aimé Mbadinga, a professional driver in his twenties or early thirties, was the son of the late Patrice Boulingui, a former civil servant from the city of Tchibanga, where he was a respected elder. Mr. Mbadinga was killed by the military around 6:30 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2009 in the upscale neighborhood of Balise. Some of the soldiers covered their faces with a hood, while others simply adorned a black beret. Mr. Mbadinga’s body was recovered by his family and transferred to his father’s hometown of Tchibanga on Friday, September 11, 2009 for burial. This testimony was gathered from M.A., a member of the deceased’s family.
Case 2: On the night of September 4, 2009, Mr. Mombo Ndogo, aged 18, son of Mr. Urban Ndongo, took a bullet through his chest (as can be attested by pictures and a death certificate attached to this report). This killing occurred along Ntchengue Road, at the so-called PG1 point, across from Total Gabon’s fire academy. Mr. Ndogo was shot while standing by the roadside along with other youth. A friend tried to save his life by carrying him on a wheelbarrow to Ntchengue Regional Hospital, some hundred yards away but to no avail; he passed away a few hours later. When his family tried to secure a place for him at the hospital morgue after hearing the news of his killing, the hospital employee in charge of the morgue turned them away, saying: “There’s no more room here, because I’ve already taken in 16 such cases. Where should I put this body?”
Nevertheless after a lengthy plea by the family, the morgue worker eventually accepted to take in the 17th body.
Mr. Mombo Ndongo’s family have provided pictures showing the bullet’s impact, as well as a death certificate and a copy of a complaint they lodged in court in Port Gentil.
Case 3: Mr. Jean Marie Bilongha, in his twenties or early thirties, unemployed, lived in the neighborhood of Bac Aviation. He was killed by shots fired by soldiers traveling at high speed in his neighborhood.
Case 4: Ms. Ursula Koumba, 16 years old, was killed by gunshot as a vehicle filled with military personnel drove by.
Case 5: Mr. Christian Onanga, a deaf-mute, died while attempting to cross the road on Friday, September 4 around 7 p.m. He was hit by a bullet as a military vehicle sped through his neighborhood of Miniprix. He was buried by his family on Saturday, September 18, 2009.
Case 6: Mr. Martial Owan, 26, took bullets fired by two gunmen in civilian clothes, on September 21 at 4 p.m. while he was standing at the entrance of the laundromat in the Quartier Sud neighborhood. He was pronounced dead at 7 p.m. at Tchengue Regional Hospital.
In addition to these cases that were clearly identified beyond doubt, reliable sources, including the Ntchengue cemetery warden, indicate that as many as 57 people were likely killed. This doesn’t include cases that have been attributed to reprisals by members of the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG). Difficulty identifying them arises from the fact that a climate of terror prevails in Port Gentil over these killings. Death threats have been leveled against anyone who would dare give away information related to those who were killed by gunshots during the post-election riots.
Yet specific designated locations offer an adequate space where such much-needed investigation can take place. These include the morgues at Ntchengue Regional Hospital and at the former Central Hospital, which are respectively managed by CACEPGA and GABOSEP funeral companies. Unfortunately personnel are mum at both locations.
The morgue at Tchengue hospital seems to be the place where the highest number of bodies was deposited. However we were informed that the regional director of health, Mrs. Sefou, has threatened to fire any medical staff suspected of revealing information related to deaths related to post-election events. She is also said to have confiscated all death certificates, medical files and other information related to these killings.
At CASEPGA mortuary, a reliable source has revealed that 18 bullet-riddled bodies were processed at that establishment between September 4 and September 7, 2009, when they were prohibited from accepting any additional bodies.
2-Abuses
Defense and security forces that were dispatched in Port Gentil seemed to have been ordered to humiliate and brutalize local populations in order to force them into submission. Several kinds of abuses and acts of humiliation were perpetrated against Port Gentil residents: innocent passers-by were assaulted in plain view on the street; private homes were invaded for the same purposes; several people were punched, hit with the barrel of a gun, or lacerated by bayonets attached to rifles. Others were forced to do push-ups, or cross the street on their knees, made to dance, forced to sing in unknown foreign languages. Brother and sister were forced to kiss, or copulate; collective rape was also noted. Twelve police officers raped six girls on September 16, and four officers molested a young woman who had just given birth, which led to severe vaginal lacerations. Elsewhere, a woman in labor on her way to the hospital was stopped by the army and she gave birth while they were watching despite her pleas.
In addition to these cases that were collected from anonymous sources across Port Gentil, the following cases were revealed by the primary victims or their relatives:
Case 1: On Friday, September 4, Henry Mbongo, about 50, a father of many children, was brutally beaten, humiliated, and made to stand on his knees by the military as he was preparing to cross the Ngadi intersection near his home. Likewise, a woman who tried to cross the road at the same time was subjected to the same kind of abuse. Additionally, they were both forced to sing “President Ali 9,” a reference to the ruling party’s candidate. Mr. Mbongo escaped with bruises to his legs and on his back, but the lady defecated as a result of severe shock as a stunned crowd watched speechless.
Case 2: On September 6, Christiane Jocktane, a 55-year-old mother and former bank employee, was severely beaten by soldiers as her children and many people watched helplessly. This happened while she was standing in line in front of the SMAG bakery located across from the Ocean neighborhood gendarmerie. The reason for her beating, according to army soldiers, was that the shortage of bread was caused by her children and those of all other Port Gentil residents. She received multiple blows to with rubber sticks and was kicked on the face, in her lower abdomen and on the back. She was put to bed rest for one week. (She provided a medical certificate and photos to substantiate her story.)
Case 3: Philippe ISSAN, municipal worker in his forties was forcefully removed from his hospital bed by the military while he was hospitalized at Paul Igamba hospital. He was taken to a naval base where he is still being held incommunicado today. Is he still alive?
Case 4: Locin Mondounua, a young man in his twenties, was picked up by a police officer at the Salsa crossroads while he was on his way home. He was taken to the Chateau commissariat, where he was forced to do push-ups before being released.
Case 5: On Saturday, September 19, 2009 employees of oil company Morrel & Prom were assaulted by a group of army soldiers as they were coming back from work aroung 7 p.m. (the curfew didn’t start until 11 p.m.). They were severely beaten and some of them lost teeth, others suffered skull fracture; all were taken to the Ntchengue hospital. The company’s CEO took photos of their ordeal, vowing to file a lawsuit. We were unable to verify this information on our own given that the military has denied access to the hospital.
Case 6: On the morning of Saturday, September 18, Philipe Vouet was assaulted by soldiers while he was entering his office at Schulumberger near the headquarters of Total Gabon. He has requested that his identity be kept secret.
Case 7: Mr. Mouity Maganga, pastry chef at the Meridien Hotel, was forced by soldiers to cross the street on his knees for no apparent reason in the morning of Sunday, September 6 at 9 a.m. This happened at the ASECNA crossroads.
Case 8: On Thursday, September 3 Jean Bernard Mouanambatsi, retired was assaulted by the military (torn clothes) at 4:30 p.m. while he was looking for his grandson.
Case 9: Mr. Theodore Ngoungou was brutally hit in the face at the ASECNA crossroads, while trying to find out what had happened to his son who had been arrested for failure to show identification. He has provided photos and a medical certificate to document his case.
Case 10: Martial Mboumba and Nze Angara were dragged out of their home on September 10 aroudn 8 p.m. They were beaten with batons and sticks studded with nails, they were made to walk around the city and hurt in the head (photos provided) before being taken to the naval base around 1 a.m.
Case 11: Mr. Alain Obame, 34, was taken to the surgical department of Ntchegue Regional Hospital where we was treated for gunshot wounds he sustained after he was shot at by officer Robert Avoungou, who heads the gendarmerie unit of Omboue.
Case 12: On September 5, 2009 around 10 p.m., Mr Memiaghe was hit with five small-caliber bullets while he was in his home. He was first hospitalized at the Bilie Clinic ( Dr. Ikouakoua), and was later transferred to Ntchengue hospital.
Case 13: A 16-year-old boy took two bullets in the lung (Dr. Igambontcina).
Case 14: The Diawara family: Mr. Diawara, his wife, three daughters and his tenant were violently assaulted in their homes (ASECNA junction) by soldiers based at the airport. Mr. Diawara is seriously injured in his right leg, his wife and daughters have several bruises as well. The tenant has a leg injury and is also hurt on the right foot (photos provided).
Case 15: On September 21, 2009 at 5 p.m., Guy Hervé Mavoungou, 30, took two bullets in the legs after gunfire erupted in the Quartier Sud neighborhood (at Modern Laudromat). This happened during the assassination of Mr. Martial Awane (see above). Local residents claim this was perpetrated by the Judiciary Police.
Case 16: Serge Landry Duma Mouengi was in his home when he was hit by several bullets in the leg and left hand; he is currently hospitalized at Ntchengue hospital.
In addition to these reported killings and numerous instances of abuse, it is worth noting that more than 300 people have been arrested and to date a little over 40 have been appeared in court in Port Gentil. One can legitimately be concerned the fate of the rest, of whom no news has been heard to this day. Perhaps they should counted among the missing. In any case, a thorough investigation is duly warranted.
3 – Destruction of property
The fact-finding team found that many stores in the Grand Village market area were destroyed and burned. Some witnesses interviewed indicated that the military remained almost inactive during the looting; many of them simply recovered looted property, put it on military trucks, and took it to unknown destinations.
As for the Schlumberger building and the Total compound, which was indeed looted by protesters, local residents indicate that this happened long after the looting on the top floor of the building.
As for Roger Buttin hall, no protest was noted in that area. It is in the night, after the curfew had entered into effect, that local residents saw flames and smoke on the roof of the building. Some residents affirm that the fire was started by a projectile launched from the main road.
It is therefore evident that a thorough investigation is needed to ascertain the truth as to what really happened.
It must be noted that our interviewees remain under shock as they hear deceiving statements uttered by some of the highest authorities of the state, as well as some local politicians as they gathered at Mbandja Hotel in Port Gentil a few days after these events.
Far from advocating for social harmony, such statements amount to calls for hatred and ethnic divisions. This is clearly a violation of existing laws and a prosecution is therefore in order.
Libreville, September 22, 2009
• Prof. Pierre Andre Kombila Koumba
• Prof. Joseph John Nambo
• The Honorable Kombe Lekambo
• Jean Blaise Moussavou Maganga
Translation of: Rapport de la mission d’information sur les violations des droits de l’homme à Port-Gentil
by François Gouahinga.
