MEP Thierry Mariani (Patriots for Europe) has asked the European Commission whether it has raised with Gabonese authorities the case of former Prime Minister Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, arrested in Libreville on 15 April 2026 over a debt dating back to 2008. The question, submitted on 5 June 2026, challenges the Commission to clarify its diplomatic engagement and defence of procedural safeguards for a leading opposition figure in Gabon's post-transition landscape.
Mariani's parliamentary question notes that Bilie-By-Nze's lawyers have questioned the statute of limitations under Gabonese law, and that the former premier ran in the April 2025 presidential election. The MEP asks whether the EU Delegation in Libreville has liaised with Gabonese authorities on compliance with procedural safeguards, and which channels the Commission will use to ensure Bilie-By-Nze's right of defence is respected in line with Gabon's international commitments.
The question signals concern over the rule of law in Gabon's transition, and implicitly pressures the Commission to take a stance. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will indicate whether it views the arrest as a bilateral judicial matter or a test of EU engagement with central African democracies.