Kongossa on the posthumous nomination of Odette Edjiegoye: Yes, it's true!

Gabon is shaken by news that, at first, may have seemed like a simple rumor from social networks. The posthumous appointment of Odette Edjiegoye to the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) has been making the rounds on the web, with some calling it disinformation, others saying it was impossible. After investigation, it is time to lift the veil: yes, it is true, and this scandal is completely real!

What seemed like a rumor turns out to be a fact

When the story broke, many thought it was another Kongossa , a buzz exaggerated by the networks. But the sources are formal: TV Plus Afrique and Gabon Media Time confirmed this astonishing and shocking appointment. The institution responsible for advising on crucial issues for Gabonese society has indeed made official the appointment of a deceased person, several months after his disappearance.

So why such a blunder? Human error? Administrative dysfunction? What is certain is that this situation goes beyond simple clumsiness. It is an institutional failure that highlights practices that are, to say the least, questionable at the top of the State.

Basic verification…nonexistent?

It is difficult to understand how such an error could have occurred. How can such a prestigious institution appoint a person without verifying his eligibility, that is, his very existence? This reveals a glaring lack of rigor in the management of public affairs. Misfiled documents? Obsolete files? Whatever the explanation, the problem seems deeper: a lack of basic control.

This appointment has rekindled the debate on the competence and efficiency of Gabonese institutions. If it is possible to appoint a deceased person, what about other administrative processes? Are we facing an administration that operates in automatic mode, without real supervision?

Social media was right

What was also striking was the speed with which Gabonese Internet users sniffed out the error. As soon as the announcement was made, several voices were raised on X (Twitter) to denounce this scandal, initially thinking it was a bad joke. However, the confirmation of this posthumous nomination proved right those who were right to be indignant.

"When I saw the news, I thought it was a hoax," one user explained. "But no, we're told it's serious. What country do we live in?!"

Other users immediately pointed out the incompetence of those in charge: "Appointing a dead woman is proof that our administration is on autopilot." These reactions clearly show the growing indignation at this error which, despite its seriousness, seems almost surreal.

One more symptom in a failing system

This scandal is not an isolated one. It reflects a broader problem within the Gabonese administration. A lack of rigor, an absence of transparency, and public management that seems disconnected from daily reality. While the country is going through a period of political transition, this kind of error only increases citizens' distrust of their institutions.

All the more so since this appointment comes at a time when Gabon is in the midst of a debate on the overhaul of its Constitution, with Article 53 excluding 94% of the population from access to power. While discussions on rigor, competence and good governance are at the heart of concerns, this episode reinforces the idea that the Gabonese administration is not yet ready for real change.

Yes, it's real, and it's disturbing.

After investigation, there is no doubt that the posthumous appointment of Odette Edjiegoye is indeed a reality. It is neither a hoax nor an exaggeration of social networks. It is a striking example of the mismanagement that is plaguing some institutions in the country, where even the most gross errors seem to go unnoticed.

Beyond the scandal, this case raises a crucial question: how can the Gabonese administration hope to restore the trust of citizens if it is unable to avoid such basic errors? This is not simply a mistaken appointment, it is a profound symptom of the state of disrepair of a system that urgently needs reform.