In the Central African Republic, activist Madame Ousna Sabé has publicly supported Samantha Olivia Imanga, a former employee of Mercure Logistique who reported being fired after refusing advances and experiencing mistreatment. Sabé emphasized that denouncing injustices should not be equated with political opposition.
"Today, we are in a country where, when you denounce, you are immediately branded a political opponent," Madame Ousna Sabé stated. She added, "They say it's because you don't like the regime in power, because you don't like the President of the Republic, because you are an enemy of peace." Sabé urged citizens not to be intimidated, asserting that no law prohibits Central Africans from being political opponents or obliges them to love the current regime or the President. "The President of the Republic, we owe him respect as President of all Central Africans, even those in the opposition. But to love him? Nothing obliges us to do so," she said, encouraging people to speak out as "the fear does not change your situation. What can change it is when you open your mouth and denounce the mistreatment and injustices you suffer."
Workplace Abuses and Legal Rights
Madame Ousna Sabé reported observing similar patterns of abusive dismissals and moral, psychological, and physical humiliation in companies managed by Lebanese employers for nearly 15 years. Sabé encouraged Samantha Olivia Imanga, stating, "My sister, much courage!" She also urged the broader population to speak out against mistreatment and injustices, asserting that "Fear will not change your situation. What can change it is when you open your mouth and denounce the mistreatment and injustices you suffer."
This encouragement comes amid a reported climate of complaints regarding working conditions in companies operated by Lebanese employers within the Central African Republic. Madame Sabé appealed to the labor inspection office and women jurists, stating, "To you who work at the labor inspection and among women jurists, Central Africans complain too much about you. Help those who have no connections, those who have no one." She emphasized that silence makes victims complicit in their own mistreatment.
Defining Political Opposition
Madame Ousna Sabé made a strong statement on Facebook regarding the situation of Samantha Olivia Imanga, emphasizing that critiquing injustice is often misconstrued as political dissent. Sabé noted this tendency, stating, "Today, we are in a country where, when you denounce, you are immediately branded a political opponent. They say it's because you don't like the regime in power, because you don't like the President of the Republic, because you are an enemy of peace."
Sabé affirmed that there is no law in the Central African Republic prohibiting political opposition. She explicitly stated, "Listen to me very carefully: in this country, there is no law that prohibits anyone from being in political opposition. There is no law that prohibits Central Africans from being political opponents. There is no law that obliges anyone to love a regime or to love the President of the Republic."
Distinguishing between respect for the office and personal affection, Sabé asserted that while respect is due to the President, love is not obligatory. "The President of the Republic, we owe him respect as President of all Central Africans, even those in the opposition. But to love him? Nothing obliges us to do so," she explained. Sabé encouraged citizens not to be intimidated by such accusations, adding, "You are not a bad person if you do not share the President's vision. You are not a bad person if you do not share the vision of those who support him. Stop with this fear."
Call to Action and Solidarity
Madame Ousna Sabé emphasized that no law in the Central African Republic compels citizens to support the current regime or the President. "Listen to me very carefully: in this country, there is no law that prohibits anyone from being in political opposition. There is no law that prohibits Central Africans from being political opponents," Sabé stated, adding, "There is no law that obliges anyone to love a regime or to love the President of the Republic." She distinguished between respect for the office and personal affection, explaining, "The President of the Republic, we owe him respect as President of all Central Africans, even those in the opposition. But to love him? Nothing obliges us to do so." Sabé also criticized individuals who discourage victims from speaking out by threatening their employment prospects. "Stop with this fear," she urged, encouraging people to vocalize their experiences.
