BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY
Freemason Presidents in Africa: Ali Bongo ordained Grand Master of Gabon
The grand master of the National
Grand Lodge of France (GLNF) installed Ali Bongo as the head of Gabonese
Freemasonry, a couple of weeks ago. The title was, until June this
year, held by the former President Omar Bongo. About one thousand
influential politicians practice freemasonry in Gabon. Just like his
father, Ali Bongo is expected to mobilize the Masonic network in order
to establish his legitimacy and authority in Gabon and the world.
Ali Bongo, the new
Gabonese President, Wednesday, November 4, launched the World Conference
of Regular Freemasonry in Libreville. His father, Omar Bongo, who
kicked the bucket on the 8th of June, 2009, had vehemently fought for
the organization of the masonic forum to take place in the central
African country and would have naturally jump for joy to welcome his
"brethren" from all over the world. Ali Bongo, his heir, not only
inherited the opportunity to hold the conference but also mount the
vacant Gabonese Freemason throne.
According to the French weekly Le Nouvel Observateur,
the cream of French Freemasons in Libreville, including Alain Bauer —
former Grand Master of the Grand Orient de France (from 2000 to 2003)
and special adviser for terrorism and crime at the French presidency, —
after participating in Omar Bongo’s funeral ceremonies installed Ali
Bongo as head of the two local branches of the lodge, which count some
one thousand members.
Francois Stifani, the grand master of the National Grand
Lodge of France (GLNF), one of the largest Masonic orders with 38 000
members, was in Libreville two weeks ago to ordain Ali Bongo, who until
then occupied the rank of Assistant Grand Master, i.e.; at least three
levels below the peak of the hierarchy. At age 53, Ali Bongo has become
the grand master of the Grand Lodge of Gabon (GLB) and the Grand
Equatorial Rite, the two predominant Freemason orders in Gabon.
Ali Bongo and his father
For Ali Bongo, this promotion is as important as his
presidential title. Having gone through a difficult election, the
neophyte President needs the "fraternal" networking machine to help
consolidate his authority. The strategy was developed and successfully
applied by his father, the late Omar Bongo. Omar established the Masonic
order as an ante-chamber to serve as a recruitment unit for his key
allies, and also as an infallible source of allegiance to consolidate
his power.
Initiated first as a member of the Masonic Lodge in
1953, that is, fourteen years before becoming president in November 28,
1967, Omar Bongo, — also regarded as a religious chameleon who switched
from Catholicism to Islam, and vice versa, not by virtue of whim but by
hidden interests, founded two separate Masonic orders in Gabon to bind
his "brethren" across the French political sphere: the Grand Rite
Equatorial — affiliated with Great Orient (GO) which is left wing
oriented, and the Grand Lodge of Gabon (GLG), linked to the National
Grand Lodge of France (GLNF), closer to the French right wing. To gain
Bongo’s trust, a politician was expected to adhere to at least one of
the two orders. Almost the entire Gabonese ruling political class is
part of the lodge.
Those who refuse to submit to these dictates are banished or ridiculed. Interviewed by Le Nouvel Observateur,
Ernest Tomo, pastor of an evangelical church and an unsuccessful
presidential candidate in August, accused the Gabonese "brethren" of
orchestrating his low electoral score (308 votes, or 0.09% votes).
Standing as a candidate in the 2005 presidential
elections against Omar Bongo, Ernest Tome withdrew from the race after a
"divine" intervention, he was later invited to join the government,
where the former President appointed him as Minister of State and a
member of the Presidential Cabinet, responsible for religious affairs.
He was neither given a service car, an office nor a staff to work with.
During a public meeting, Omar Bongo gave his reasons: "If you’re not
there, we do not see you. And we do not consider you for what you are."
The man of God had blatantly refused to be initiated by the Freemasons.
Now holding the reins of Masonic power, Ali Bongo is
almost certain to consolidate his power. Some of his fiercest opponents,
like Andre Mba Obame, former presidential candidate and a childhood
friend and a lodge member, may even come to their senses.
France-Afrique Freemasonry?
Just like in Gabon, Freemasonry is very present at the
very top in many African states. Denis Sassou Nguesso, the Congolese
president, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Congo – Brazzaville is
linked to the National Grand Lodge of France; President Mamadou Tanja of
Niger; Chad’s Idriss Deby and François Bozizé of the Central African
Republic are among at least twelve African presidents linked to the
“trois points” (three points) brothers.
Their adherence to this society is more often than not
the cause of misfortune for their various countries. Their western
counterparts on the other hand act differently. As their western
counterparts do all in their power to consolidate democracy in their
countries to enhance development, Freemasons within the African
political circles mostly rule their countries with iron fists, while
robbing the “widow and orphan”, contrary to the main objective of the
Lodge, which seeks to protect the “widow and the orphan”.
After a 42 year rule in a country naturally blessed with
oil resources, like one of the prosperous Gulf states, Omar Bongo left
Gabon in economic shambles and among the very poor countries category
(HIPC). His former father-in-law, Sassou Nguesso has also been accused
of the same corrupt practices. Both appeared on a recent list which
denounced African leaders with ill-gotten wealth.
Their godfathers from the French lodge, by virtue of
their silence, have condoned these practices. The Nouvel Observateur
article mentions how Omar Bongo, known for his generosity towards his
friends showered his French "brethren" with gifts. Only a few years ago,
a huge financial gift from Denis Sassou Nguesso to the GLNF was widely
criticized. Equally linked to Masonic networks, although nothing is
known of his adhesion to the Freemasons, Paul Biya of Cameroon recently
donated a large sum of money to l’Ordre Souverain du Temple Initiatique,
in a backdrop of poverty in his own backyard. Mr. Biya is known for his
expansive generosity towards gurus and esoteric groups. Largesse made
possible by Cameroonian taxpayers’ money.
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