A major political milestone in Central Africa, as Gabon prepares to swear in its new president following a historic power shift. Brice Oligui Nguema, the general who led last year’s military coup that ended more than five decades of Bongo family rule, will officially be inaugurated as president this Saturday. Oligui won last month’s election by a landslide, securing nearly 95% of the vote, and now steps into the role after leading a 19-month transitional government.
The inauguration will take place at the Angondje Stadium, just north of the capital Libreville, with several African heads of state expected to attend. Among the dignitaries are Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Gambia’s Adama Barrow, Djibouti’s Ismail Omar Guelleh, Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, as well as Democratic Republic of Congo’s Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame.
The ceremony, which will feature artistic performances and a military parade, is expected to draw tens of thousands. Admission is free, marking the first time Gabon has held such a large public swearing-in. Later in the evening, celebrations will continue with a ‘victory concert’ along the Libreville waterfront.
In the days leading up to the event, workers have been busy cleaning and repainting streets around the stadium, while government officials have called on residents to welcome international guests and help beautify their neighborhoods.
But beyond the festivities, Oligui faces formidable challenges as he takes office. Despite being rich in oil, Gabon’s economy remains heavily reliant on petroleum and struggles with a crumbling infrastructure. The nation faces frequent blackouts due to an aging power grid, high youth unemployment at around 40 percent, poor roads, and a rising public debt projected to hit 80 percent of GDP this year.
During his transitional leadership, Oligui positioned himself as a reformer, promising to tackle corruption and launch new development projects. Now, all eyes are on whether he can deliver lasting change.
We will continue to follow developments from Libreville as Gabon ushers in this new era.
Reporting by Ehud Jones.
