Raymond Obame Sima wins re-election as the Gabonese Bar calls for fair justice
Raymond Obame Sima, unanimously re-elected as president of the Gabonese Bar Association, urged discipline, unity among colleagues, and collective engagement to reshape the profession.
C entral to this new mandate are the well-being of lawyers, recruitment reform, and the safeguarding of the Bar’s autonomy, guided by responsibility and a return to institutional order.
These priorities address the flaws plaguing Gabon’s justice system—conflicts of interest, profit-driven pleadings, and political interference. The Bar must reform to restore credibility and public trust. Ethical training, continuous education, and a strict code of conduct are seen as key to ending ‘hired-gun’ lawyers and ensuring independent defense.
By tackling the issues that weaken the credibility of lawyers, the Bar will promote a more just and equitable justice system.
The Bar is called to protect lawyers’ independence from outside pressures and address the risks of burnout and precariousness, aiming to improve access to justice for all Gabonese. Obame Sima’s ambitious vision is to turn the Bar into a safeguard against arbitrariness and a cornerstone of the rule of law.
