Martin Edzodzomo-Ela
Gabonese economist and politician
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Martin Edzodzomo-Ela, also rendered as Martin Edzodzomo Ela or Martin Edzodzomo Ella, is a Gabonese economist and politician. He has written a number of books and articles advocating for democratic reforms in Gabon. His work with the Gabonese opposition caused his dismissal as a prominent banking executive in the 1970s. He ran as an independent protest candidate in the 1998 Gabonese presidential election.
Life and career
Edzodzomo-Ela holds a PhD in economics.[1] He worked as a senior executive at the Paribas-Gabon bank from 1975 to 1979, but he was dismissed for his opposition to the regime of Omar Bongo.[2] Ever since his political activity in the 1970s, he has been a prominent member of the pro-democratic Gabonese opposition.[1]
Edzodzomo-Ela ran as an independent candidate in the Gabonese presidential election of 1998, where he finished with 1,548 votes, or 0.49% of the votes cast.[3]
Edzodzomo-Ela has written a series of books about the political, social, and economic situation of Gabon, including a book-length treatment of Gabonese democracy in the early 1990s and a political manifesto regarding the future of Gabon.[2][4] He has also contributed journalistic and opinion articles to French African publications like the Libreville news[5] and Cameroun Web,[6] and he has been interviewed or quoted in outlets like the Courier des Afriques and Gabon Review.[7] Much of his political commentary has revolved around the ramifications of the systems established by Omar Bongo, which Edzodzomo-Ela argues have been inconsistent with democracies and fair elections.[8] He has advocated fundamental overhauls to these institutions, including constitutional reform.[9]
Edzodzomo-Ela's daughter, Danièle Obono,[10] was born in Libreville, and in 2017 was elected to the National Assembly of France representing Paris's 17th constituency for La France Insoumise.[11]