Oligui Nguema names Gabon parliament leaders
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Gabon's new ruler, General Brice Oligui Nguema, named former opposition leaders and members of the deposed administration to both houses of parliament on Monday.
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Gabon’s new strongman, General Brice Oligui Nguema (2nd R), greets members of staff after he was inaugurated as Gabon’s interim President. (AFP)
Gabon's new ruler, General Brice Oligui Nguema, named former opposition leaders and members of the deposed administration to both houses of parliament on Monday.
Yesterday, interim Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima of Gabon revealed his new government on Saturday, comprising military figures and ex-ministers from the regime of deposed President Ali Bongo Ondimba, but none of the prominent opposition personalities.
Ndong Sima selected a 26-member cabinet two days after General Brice Oligui Nguema, who spearheaded the August coup against Bongo, nominated him as transitional president of Gabon.
Oligui has not specified a timeline for returning to civilian rule.
The new Senate will be chaired by Paulette Missambo, the president of the National Union party and one of Bongo's main opponents in the election, according to a proclamation read out on state television by Oligui.
Jean-François Ndongou, who served in various ministerial positions during the Bongo family's decades in power, will be the interim National Assembly's speaker.
Each house was assigned four vice presidents, including army personnel, politicians who opposed and backed Bongo, and civil society members.
Oligui is also expected to appoint 70 members of the assembly and 50 of the senate.
