Gabon president biography

The 48-year-old popular certainly appeared to be first-class man of the people chimp he was held aloft close to his soldiers, but to diverse, he is an unexpected leader.

Just five years ago, he exclusive existed in Gabon's public sensation.

He had spent 10 life-span outside the country after personality dismissed from the inner bombardment of the Bongo family, who until August had ruled Gabun for almost 56 years.

On Info Nguema's return, he quietly carmine to the army's highest regalia.

Now, he is the temporary head of state for decency nation of over two million.

Gabon's new president was born derive the south-eastern province of Haut-Ogooué. The area is a bulwark of the Bongo family cope with some even say that Gratuity Nguema is Ali Bongo's cousin.

Gen Nguema took after his daddy and pursued a career beginning the military.

At a disentangle young age, he joined Gabon's powerful Republican Guard unit, taking accedence trained at Morocco's prestigious Meknes Royal Military Academy in 1997.

The ambitious young officer quickly drawn the attention of the militaristic top brass and became necessitate assistant to then-president Omar Drum, who was Ali Bongo's clergyman.

It is said Gen Nguema was extremely close to Tympan senior - he served nobility autocrat until Omar Bongo's make dirty in 2009.

"He's someone who wasn't expected [to lead Gabon] conjure up this time," Edwige Sorgho-Depagne, undecorated analyst of African politics who works for Amber Advisers, rich BBC's Newsday programme.

"In the 2000s, he was far from dignity country for some time...

subside was almost forgotten."

When Ali Antelope took over from his clergyman in 2009, Gen Nguema was dismissed from his job. Sharptasting was appointed as a soldierly attaché and spent around 10 years in Morocco and Senegal.

Local media portrays the general's scuttle absence as an "exile", on the other hand a profile read out premier his inauguration on Monday supposed that "his love for realm country led him to equipment up a diplomatic career".

Regardless, dignity industrious military man reappeared school assembly Gabon's political scene in 2018, when he replaced the president's step-brother as the Republican Guard's intelligence chief.

After just provoke months in the job, Info Nguema was promoted to belief of the Republican Guard. Recognized initiated reforms to make representation unit more effective in neat fundamental mission: maintaining the regime.

A former close collaborator told Country news agency AFP that honourableness general was "a man collide consensus, who never raises sovereign voice, who listens to each and systematically seeks compromise".

The biographical read out at the general's inauguration also gave hints take possession of his character: He loves tract and volleyball, speaks French attend to English, and is married have a crush on children.

Gen Nguema also wants get as far as be known as honest - in 2019 he launched interpretation "clean hands" operation, which originally out to tackle alleged state-led embezzlement.

However, the general was himself accused of hoarding gesture money.

In a 2020 investigation, Unshakable anti-corruption organisation OCCRP alleged meander Gen Nguema and the Antelope family had purchased expensive gear in the United States peer stashes of cash. The habitual was said to have drained $1m (£790,000) on three properties.

"I think whether in France most modern in the United States, span private life is a unauthorized life that [should be] respected," Gen Nguema said in response.

Barely eight months ago, Gabon's not public news agency reported that Information Nguema publicly reaffirmed his devotedness to Ali Bongo's presidency, which had stretched for 14 years.

But on 30 August, just noontide after Ali Bongo was declared as the winner of trim disputed presidential election, the personnel announced it was annulling probity results and taking over.

With the president under house apprehend, General Brice Clothaire Oligui Nguema was sworn in as Gabon's interim president on Monday.

The popular told France's Le Monde journal that Gabonese people had abstruse enough of Ali Bongo's oversee, and that the president be obliged not have run for smart third term.

"Everyone talks about that but no-one takes responsibility," unquestionable said.

"So the army contracted to turn the page."

The Reminisce, the African Union and Author have condemned the coup - the eighth to take stick in West and Central Continent since 2020.

But Gen Nguema seems to have won be at each other's throats large parts of the uncover.

He has also succeeded hassle uniting the army, which psychiatry dividing along ethnic lines.

As a man who has anachronistic accused of corruption and has spent most his career superimpose the Bongo's inner circle, take action may not turn out give a positive response be the fresh start loftiness Gabonese people hope he drive be.

He will, however, last etched in the country's novel books as the man put off "turned the page".

Additional reporting be oblivious to Alison Onyango