#COVID19 : Legal War Between Gabon Govt And Constitutional Court Rages On
The legal battle between the government of Gabon and the country’s Constitutional Court continues.
The legal battle between the government of Gabon and the country’s Constitutional Court continues with the court once again suspending a decision by the government re-imposing anti-COVID-19 strict measures that had been suspended by the Constitutional Court on Dec. 24, 2021.
The imbroglio between the government and the Constitutional Court began on Dec. 15, when the court ruled in favour of a civil society
organisation, COPIL CITOYEN, which had prayed the court to nullify a government
decision to impose new anti-coronavirus barrier measures effective Dec. 15.
The contentious parts of the measures include the obligatory presentation of health passes such as an anti-COVID-19 vaccination card and PCR test results before being granted access to public offices as well as the very high cost of the tests which rose from being free of charge to 20,000 FCFA (about 40 US dollars) for ordinary tests and from 20,000 FCFA to 50,000 FCFA (about 100 US dollars) for VIP tests.
In the face of the government’s determination to force the measures down the throats of the citizens, the Constitutional Court on Dec. 24, reiterated its decision to suspend the anti-coronavirus measures imposed by the government.
However, on the same day the Constitutional Court ordered the suspension of the measures after having declared them unconstitutional, the government re-imposed them by Arrete number 0685/PM of December 24, 2021.
On Tuesday, Dec. 28, the Constitutional Court
presided by its president, Marie Madeleine Mborantsuo, once again declared the measures contained in the Dec. 24, 2021 Prime Ministerial Arrete number 0685/PM as
unconstitutional and ordered that they be suspended by the government.
Citing Article 85 of the country’s Constitution, the Constitutional Court agreed with COPIL CITOYEN that the measures were a threat to freedom.
The Constitutional Court decision has been forwarded to several national institutions concerned with ensuring the respect of the constitution and legal decisions with the intention of obliging them to ensure the execution of the court order.
The Gabonese national community has since been holding its breath to see whether the government is still going to sweep the decision of the Constitutional Court under the mat as it did that of Dec. 24.
Meta COVID-19, Gabon and the country’s Constitutional Court
Support Our Journalism
There are millions of ordinary people affected by conflict in Africa whose stories are missing in the mainstream media. HumAngle is determined to tell those challenging and under-reported stories, hoping that the people impacted by these conflicts will find the safety and security they deserve.
To ensure that we continue to provide public service coverage, we have a small favour to ask you. We want you to be part of our journalistic endeavour by contributing a token to us.
Your donation will further promote a robust, free, and independent media.
Donate Here
