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French President Francois Hollande and Gabonese President Ali Bongo

Gabon’s despair and France’s postcolonial strategy

Francophone countries in Africa have had trouble implementing democracy. Gabon, where a former dictator's son has just won a second term as president in a controversial election, is the poster child for this disease. Why does this happen? Part of the answer lies in France's postcolonial geopolitical strategy. Is there any hope? For ordinary Gabonese, that appears unlikely.

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