Gabon’s progress offers lessons for Madagascar’s refoundation

On the second day of his official trip to Libreville, Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, the president of the Refondation of the Republic of Madagascar, toured several of the Gabonese capital’s most significant landmarks this Saturday. Accompanied by Hermann Immongault, the vice-president of the government, his itinerary included stops at the Cité Émeraude, the Baie des Rois, and the Cité de la Démocratie. While at this final location, Colonel Randrianirina was shown the banquet hall, the Palais des Congrès, and the Omar Bongo Ondimba museum.

Following this extensive tour, the Malagasy leader expressed that his observations in Gabon reflect an Africa undergoing a profound transformation. He noted that these accomplishments underscore a clear desire among African leaders to modernize their nations and fast-track their development. “Everything I have witnessed in Gabon illustrates the commitment of many African presidents to modernize and advance their countries and the continent,” he remarked. While clarifying that he does not intend to replicate Gabon’s model exactly, as “the processes are not the same,” Colonel Michaël Randrianirina commended the results achieved by Gabonese authorities during their Transition period.

He observed that some of Gabon’s achievements were previously considered difficult, if not impossible, to complete in such a brief timeframe, yet Gabon succeeded. Consequently, he stated his intention to learn from the Gabonese experience to support the refoundation process underway in his own country.

“We will try, as you mentioned earlier, to learn from Gabon to successfully carry out the refoundation of Madagascar, so that we can bring the country to a presidential election as quickly as possible,” he emphasized. His stated ambition is to guide Madagascar toward a presidential election at the earliest opportunity. Colonel Michaël Randrianirina departed from Libreville yesterday in the mid-morning.