Libreville: Gabon’s President-elect Brice Oligui Nguema, who led a coup ending 55 years of Bongo family rule, is set to be sworn in on Saturday. Nguema, who swept the polls last month with nearly 95 percent of the vote, will officially take the presidential reins after leading a 19-month transition government.
According to France24.com, the general and former junta leader toppled Ali Bongo in August 2023, ending decades of dynastic rule by the Bongo family. The swearing-in ceremony will be held at the Angondje stadium, which was built to honor the friendship between Gabon and China. This event marks the first time the country will hold a swearing-in ceremony in front of such a large audience, with tickets being offered for free.
The ceremony is expected to feature artistic performances and a military parade, as reported by state media, and will be followed by a “victory concert” on the Libreville waterfront in the evening. In preparation for the event, hundreds of workers have been cleaning and repainting a
reas around the main roads leading to the stadium. Authorities have urged citizens to be public-spirited due to the influx of foreign guests and have encouraged residents near the stadium to participate in cleaning and beautifying the area.
Oligui, aged 50, faces significant challenges as he takes leadership of the oil-rich but heavily indebted country. Gabon needs to revamp its crucial infrastructure and diversify its economy. Key concerns include an ageing electricity network that suffers frequent power cuts, youth unemployment hovering at 40 percent, poor or lacking roads, and a ballooning public debt forecasted to hit 80 percent of GDP this year. During the transition period, Oligui portrayed himself as a “builder,” launching numerous construction projects and vowing to address corruption to get the country back on track.