Brice Oligui Nguema, who rose to power after leading a coup that ended decades of the Bongo family’s rule in Gabon, is set to be sworn in as president on Saturday. Nguema, who also overwhelmingly won recent elections with nearly 95 percent of the vote, is officially taking the presidential reins after heading a 19-month transitional government.
The inauguration ceremony will be held in a large stadium in Libreville, with several African heads of state expected to be in attendance, including leaders from Gambia, Senegal, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda.
This will be the first time Gabon has held a presidential swearing-in in front of such a large public audience, with free tickets offered for the event at the Angondje stadium.
The day’s festivities will include artistic performances, a military parade, and an evening concert.
As the capital prepares for the influx of foreign guests, authorities have urged residents to help clean and beautify the city. Despite his recent electoral success and efforts to project himself as a “builder” and anti-corruption advocate during the transition, the 50-year-old Oligui faces significant challenges in leading Gabon.
These include improving the country’s aging infrastructure, diversifying its oil-dependent economy, tackling high youth unemployment (around 40%), addressing poor road conditions, and managing a rapidly growing public debt, which is projected to reach 80 percent of GDP this year.
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