Gabon transitional president appoints Prime Minister

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
7 Sep 2023 23:22

The newly appointed Prime minister has extensive experience in Gabonese politics; he formerly served as minister of agriculture and prime minister.

This video grab shows coup supporters cheering police officers in Libreville, Gabon, on Aug. 30, 2023 (AP Photo/Betiness Mackosso, File)

General Brice Oligui Nguema, the transitional president of Gabon, has named Raymond Ndong Sima as the transitional prime minister, national television channel Gabon24 reported.

Raymond Ndong Sima is known for his extensive experience in Gabonese politics. He received his education in France and later served in the Gabonese Ministry of Economy and Planning. During the 1990s, Sima held leadership positions in various state-owned enterprises. His previous roles include serving as the Minister of Agriculture and a term as Prime Minister from 2012 to 2014.

However, it was in 2015 that Sima took a significant political turn by resigning from the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party and becoming a prominent critic of the then-incumbent President Ali Bongo Ondimba.

The military coup series continues in #Africa as the Gabonese junta depose President Ali Bongo. pic.twitter.com/EIMIay4NAV
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Last week, General Brice Oligui Nguema, vowed to craft a new constitution for the country, which everyone partakes in its drafting.

During a press conference attended by representatives of local and international media, Nguema indicated that after the constitution is drafted, electoral systems will be put in place, and elections will be held directly afterward.

General Nguema reiterated that ousted President Ali Bongo won the presidential elections through fraud; therefore, the results were canceled to prevent "bloodshed".

A couple of days ago, the military had reassured international donors they would "respect all commitments" at home and abroad and "phase in" transitional institutions.