Omar Bongo quotes

Omar Bongo was a Gabonese statesman who served as president of Gabon for over four decades. His leadership made him one of Africa’s longest-ruling heads of state and a central figure in the country’s political life. He played a key role in maintaining political stability and shaping Gabon's modern identity. Here are 35 of his quotes:

It is not right to associate the fight against international terrorist networks with an imaginary crusade against Islam. (Omar Bongo)
When they favor the access of other people to education and health care, the countries of the North not only demonstrate generosity or solidarity, but also implement the principles of respecting and promoting human rights. View quote
Omar Bongo
My actions to promote peace, the mediation missions which I carried out during many conflicts, which very often occurred between brothers of the same country, are not driven by any ulterior motives or any calculations based on personal ambitions. View quote
Omar Bongo
The shock caused by the September 11 events has also lead to a thorough reflection on the existing disparity between rich and poor countries, on the misery of populations of the South. View quote
Omar Bongo
The free market economy is supposed to be the only path leading to the happiness of humanity by promoting wealth and prosperity, power and influence of nations. View quote
Omar Bongo
The world is now aware that the most unavoidable and most dangerous weapon that exists is the blind decisiveness of a man ready to sacrifice his life for an obscure cause. View quote
Omar Bongo
But it is important to observe that when Europe or the United Nations impose sanctions that are supposed to be aimed against a certain regime, usually generally millions of people end up being directly punished. View quote
Omar Bongo
I am in favor of complete freedom of information and of free access to the new communication tools, in particular the Internet. View quote
Omar Bongo
Globalization, far from putting an end to power diplomacy between States, has, on the contrary, intensified it. View quote
Omar Bongo
It is important to stress: Africa is also a victim of the September 11 attacks. View quote
Omar Bongo
Because the world is in economic recession, which worsened since this drama happened, and our country will bear the burden of all of these consequences. (Omar Bongo)
Therefore, every country has to understand that fighting against international terrorism is not for the sake of the United States, but for the sake of themselves, and, to a larger extent, in the name of stability of international relations. View quote
Omar Bongo
The African Union has to act in order to put an end to armed conflicts that undermine the continent, to fight against the devastation caused by AIDS and other contagious diseases, to promote sustainable development of its member states. View quote
Omar Bongo
Do not forget that the Arab countries, starting with Algeria and Egypt, are the ones that have paid the heaviest toll because of Islamic terror. View quote
Omar Bongo
The birth of the African Union should encourage us to reexamine relations between African States. View quote
Omar Bongo
But since independence, Gabon is one of the few countries in Central Africa that enjoys peace and stability. View quote
Omar Bongo
The principle of responsibility and collective sanctions is incompatible with the Western concept of justice. View quote
Omar Bongo
If the Soviet Union and the United States have not experienced direct military confrontations, on the other hand, they supported, armed and trained Africans, to fight other Africans. View quote
Omar Bongo
From the time of independences until the end of the Cold War, in spite of the participation of a considerable number of African states in the non-aligned movement, everyone in fact chose to align with one or another of the two major blocks. View quote
Omar Bongo
In spite of our poverty and our economic dependence, we do not have to give in, neither because we are sometimes abandoned nor because of the wish of some nations to impose their economic or political models. View quote
Omar Bongo
Certainly, Africa accounts for only l % of world trade, and we cannot assure our development on our own. (Omar Bongo)
In short, we have, among African countries, a duty of solidarity. View quote
Omar Bongo
There is an idea of democracy produced by one-sided thinking. View quote
Omar Bongo
In brief, Western democracy, as other political models, is not exportable to all regions of the world. View quote
Omar Bongo
The introduction of political pluralism often quickly led to bad results. View quote
Omar Bongo

Omar Bongo

Omar Bongo - Image
Photo: Wikimedia commons, CC BY 4.0
Occupation: Statesman
Born: December 30, 1935
Died: June 8, 2009
Quotes count: 35