Libreville, 08 January, 2020 / 12:13 am (ACI Africa).
Against the backdrop of sociopolitical challenges the Central African nation of Gabon has been facing since the re-election of President Ali Bongo Ondimba in 2016, religious leaders in the country have, on the occasion of the National Day of Prayer for peace, called for repentance and conversion of Gabonese in order to maintain peace in their diverse communities.
“This national day of prayer for peace is an opportunity for all Gabonese to change from their evil ways and return to God for us to continue to enjoy peace in our country,” Archbishop Basile Mvé Engone of Libreville told thousands who gathered at the Sports Complex in Gabon’s capital, Libreville for the Ecumenical Service Sunday, January 5.
“Our country needs people of faith, peace and love,” Archbishop Engone said and added, “that is why we need to ‘consecrate the Nation to God’ for it to be ‘washed of all sins’ and reach the forgiveness of the Creator.”
Gabon has been the scene of political uncertainty in recent times after President Bongo suffered a stroke in October 2018 while in Saudi Arabia.
During his extended absence, the army quashed an attempted coup by a small group of renegade soldiers who had aimed at toppling Bongo’s regime.
