The previous normal, who led a coup that ended Bongo household’s 55-year rule, swept elections final month after heading a transition authorities.
Brice Oligui Nguema, who led a coup in Gabon ending a long time of Bongo household rule and swept the election final month with almost 95 % of the vote, has been sworn in because the nation’s president.
The overall and former army authorities chief, who toppled Ali Bongo in August 2023, formally took the presidential reins on Saturday after main a 19-month transition authorities.
The inauguration at Angondje Stadium within the north of capital Libreville drew some 40,000 supporters and was attended by greater than 20 African heads of state, together with The Gambia’s Adama Barrow, Senegal’s Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Djibouti’s Ismail Omar Guelleh, and Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, the AFP information company reported. The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi additionally attended.
Libreville’s streets had been gridlocked as hundreds converged on the venue, with inventive performances and a army parade deliberate alongside the Libreville waterfront within the night, state media reported.
“All residents of Better Libreville are requested to increase a heat welcome to those distinguished company,” the Ministry of Inside and Safety mentioned in a press release.
Oligui, 50, rose to energy after deposing Ali Bongo, whose household had dominated Gabon for 55 years. The Bongo period was characterised by a tightly managed patronage system that enriched elites whereas leaving most residents excluded from Gabon’s oil-fuelled prosperity.
Oligui faces critical challenges in main the oil-rich nation, which must revamp essential infrastructure and diversify its financial system, however is closely indebted.
A former head of the elite Republican Guard, Oligui has promised a departure from the dynastic politics of the previous.
In his first worldwide information interview because the election, Oligui advised Al Jazeera he was decided to “restore dignity to the Gabonese individuals”.
“I’ll give again to the individuals what they’ve given me at present. And the whole lot that has been stolen from the individuals, I wish to return to them,” he mentioned.
Regardless of huge reserves of oil, gold, and manganese, and its position as a key a part of the Congo Basin rainforest, the nation struggles with widespread poverty.
In accordance with the World Financial institution’s 2024 knowledge (PDF), about 40 % of younger persons are unemployed and roughly a 3rd of the general inhabitants lives beneath the poverty line.
Throughout the transitional interval, Oligui sought to painting himself as a reformer and “builder,” launching high-profile development initiatives whereas pledging to sort out endemic corruption. His marketing campaign slogan, “We Construct Collectively”, was prominently displayed throughout rallies within the run-up to the election.
Nonetheless, Oligui’s personal file has drawn scrutiny. A 2020 investigation by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Undertaking revealed that he allegedly owned properties in america price greater than $1m and had beforehand helped broaden the Bongos’ abroad enterprise ventures.
When questioned about these ties, Oligui mentioned they had been a “non-public affair”.
However early indicators from the World Financial institution’s newest report point out that Gabon’s financial system grew by 2.9 % in 2024, pushed by elevated output of oil, timber and manganese, in addition to public infrastructure spending.
As Oligui begins his official time period, traders and worldwide observers are watching carefully to see whether or not Gabon and its inhabitants of two.2 million individuals can flip the web page on a long time of dynastic rule.
