Hollando Executed Square: a memorial to never forget
Hollando Square in Libreville, once associated with public executions between 1979 and 1985, has been officially renamed "Hollando Executed Square" and transformed into a memorial. Located in downtown Libreville, near the former National Museum, the square was the site of numerous public executions of criminals and political prisoners during the single-party era. Tens of thousands of people would gather to witness these executions, which left a profound mark on Gabon's collective memory. Notable figures executed there include Pierre Mouemba and Jean-Baptiste Medang-Ovono on July 18, 1979; Christophe Mickoto Mombo, Souleymane Massala, and Ferdinand Nzigou Boulingui on December 1, 1982; and Captain Alexandre Mandja Ngokouta on August 11, 1985. The site has been fully rehabilitated into a space for remembrance and reflection, featuring six white colonnades arranged in an arc, symbolizing the victims' memory and the commitment to preserving the recollection of these events. The memorial aims to serve as a historical testament, inviting visitors to remember the most painful periods of Gabon's history and ensuring that these events are transmitted to future generations so they are never forgotten.
