Brice Oligui Nguema, Gabon’s President-elect, will take the oath of office on Saturday. He led a coup in August 2023 that ended 55 years of Bongo family rule. Last month, he won the presidential election with nearly 95% of the vote.
The ceremony will take place at Angondje Stadium, north of Libreville. The 40,000-seat venue, built as a symbol of Gabon-China friendship, will host the country’s first swearing-in before such a large crowd.
Several African leaders will attend. These include Gambia’s Adama Barrow, Senegal’s Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Djibouti’s Ismail Omar Guelleh, and Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. The presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, Felix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame, will also be present. Kigali’s foreign ministry confirmed Kagame’s attendance.
State media announced that the event will feature military parades and live performances. A “victory concert” will follow on the Libreville waterfront. Entry is free for the public.
In preparation, workers have repainted and cleaned major roads near the stadium. Authorities urged residents to keep the city clean and welcome guests warmly. The Interior Ministry called on locals to help beautify their neighborhoods.
Oligui, 50, will lead a country rich in oil but weighed down by debt and weak infrastructure. Public debt may reach 80% of GDP this year. The power grid suffers frequent outages. Roads remain poor or incomplete. Youth unemployment stands around 40%.
As transitional leader, Oligui launched building projects and pledged to fight corruption. He promised to rebuild trust and diversify the economy. Now, as president, he must turn promises into results.
