Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema has been sworn in as President of Gabon, securing nearly 95 percent of the vote. The inauguration ceremony, held before a large crowd and attended by over a dozen African heads of state, marks the end of 19 months of military rule that began when Oligui led a coup in August 2023, ousting President Ali Bongo. Oligui will now serve a seven-year term.
During the ceremony, Oligui pledged to “preserve all my strength” for the well-being of the Gabonese people.
The event was attended by regional leaders including the presidents of Senegal, Gambia, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, DR Congo, and Rwanda.
Gabonese citizens in attendance expressed both optimism and cautious expectations. Laetitia Kelly, a beautician, stated her hope that the president would continue the positive changes initiated since August 30. Ralph Ondounda, an engineer, emphasized the need for youth empowerment, jobs, social services, and overall improvement for all Gabonese people during Oligui’s seven-year term.
