It is up to African leaders to show their will and political courage in order to assure that this new pan-African institution becomes an efficient instrument and not a place for endless discussions.
Omar Bongo

My actions to promote peace, the mediation missions which I carried out during many conflicts, which very often occurred between brothers of the same country, are not driven by any ulterior motives or any calculations based on personal ambitions.
Omar Bongo

The African Union has to act in order to put an end to armed conflicts that undermine the continent, to fight against the devastation caused by AIDS and other contagious diseases, to promote sustainable development of its member states.
Omar Bongo

The birth of the African Union should encourage us to reexamine relations between African States.
Omar Bongo

The free market economy is supposed to be the only path leading to the happiness of humanity by promoting wealth and prosperity, power and influence of nations.
Omar Bongo

The introduction of political pluralism often quickly led to bad results.
Omar Bongo

The principle of responsibility and collective sanctions is incompatible with the Western concept of justice.
Omar Bongo

The resources of our continent attract, more than ever, the interests of rich countries.
Omar Bongo

The shock caused by the September 11 events has also lead to a thorough reflection on the existing disparity between rich and poor countries, on the misery of populations of the South.
Omar Bongo

The world is now aware that the most unavoidable and most dangerous weapon that exists is the blind decisiveness of a man ready to sacrifice his life for an obscure cause.
Omar Bongo

There is an idea of democracy produced by one-sided thinking.
Omar Bongo

Therefore, every country has to understand that fighting against international terrorism is not for the sake of the United States, but for the sake of themselves, and, to a larger extent, in the name of stability of international relations.
Omar Bongo

When they favor the access of other people to education and health care, the countries of the North not only demonstrate generosity or solidarity, but also implement the principles of respecting and promoting human rights.
Omar Bongo