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Spotlight

GABON

How the state will make do without its leader

After fainting and being hospitalised on 24 October during a visit to Saudi Arabia, the Gabonese president Ali Bongo is likely to withdraw from state affairs for a number of weeks. Mechanisms to ensure the continuity of government business have [...] (627 words)

Issue dated 31/10/2018 Reading time 3 minutes

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Politics

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GABON
Ali Bongo
Brice Laccruche Alihanga
Emmanuel Issoze Ngondet
Frederic Bongo
Ike Ngouoni
Jean Ping
Johns Hopkins University
Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo
Omar Bongo
Parti Democratique Gabonais
Republican Guard
Sylvia Bongo
Union nationale
Zacharie Myboto

Bongo's new prime minister lessens first lady's influence in government

With the departure of Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda from the prime minister's office, first lady Sylvia Bongo has lost some influence within Gabon's government. Her replacement, Alain-Claude Bilié-By-Nzé has established himself as one of the new strongmen of the Bongo system. [...]

Gabonese presidential couple, Sylvia and Ali Bongo.

GABON Defence 03/10/2022

Paris suspends sale of armoured vehicles to Republican Guard ahead of elections

Fearing repression during the 2023 presidential election, the French authorities have suspended the export of armoured vehicles to Libreville. [...]

GABON Politics 06/06/2022

Laccruche's court case makes regime's praetorian guard uneasy

Cases against Ali Bongo's ex-chief of staff's chauffeur and aide de camp is creating waves within the Garde républicaine, which handles security for the president and his staff. The two men have been accused of doing things that have, over the years, become part of the unit's job. [...]

GABON Politics 04/05/2021

Traditional Ndjobi order gains new master after death of "Papa Andjoua"

On 18 April, Fidel Andjoua Ondimba, the brother of Gabon's former president Omar Bongo and Ndjobi grand master, died and was buried shortly after in Franceville. His son, a presidential advisor, has replaced him at the head of this traditional ritual widely practised in Haut-Ogooué, the Bongo family stronghold. [...]

GABON Politics 10/07/2020

Bongo family opts for long European holiday

Already somewhat detached from the day-to-day running of the country, the presidential couple are planning to holiday for several weeks in Europe. [...]

Omar Denis Jr Bongo, son of Omar Bongo Ondimba and his last wife Edith-Lucie Bongo. © DR

Inner circles

GABON Politics 30/04/2020

Omar Denis Jr Bongo cuts an increasingly solitary figure

The 26-year-old half-brother of Ali Bongo and grandson of Denis Sassou Nguesso, Omar Denis Jr Bongo, appears to have been increasingly ostracised by the Gabonese president's clan, who suspect him of harbouring presidential ambitions for 2023. [...]

GABON Politics 23/10/2019

The forced exile of Frédéric Bongo

On Monday 21 October, Frédéric Bongo handed over to Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who on 16 October was appointed as [...]

GABON Politics 24/07/2019

Ambitions rife at presidential palace

While the Bongo family prepares for the Gabonese president's media comeback, several figures are honing their image as the man for the future. [...]

GABON Politics 26/06/2019

Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo in eye of storm

Having managed to get his allies appointed to key posts within the government (WAN 802) and the civil service, Ali [...]

GABON Politics 15/05/2019

Ali Bongo and his heirs apparent

Several ambitious colleagues are beginning to emerge from the shadow of the ailing Gabonese president. Analysis. [...]

GABON Politics 10/04/2019

Edgard Anicet Mboumbou Miyakou, Bongo's go-to man for legal affairs

The 53-year-old minister of state for justice and human rights, Edgard Anicet Mboumbou Miyakou, is taking care in Libreville of [...]

GABON Politics 13/03/2019

Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo anticipates non-return of Ali Bongo

The unprecedented situation in Libreville arising from the president's ill health has tempted the regime to ‘adapt' the constitution without consultation. [...]

GABON Business 04/03/2019

Influential Olam director Gagan Gupta to leave Libreville

The Singapore-based agri-business company set up with Indian capital, Olam, also active in port logistics, power and soon in airports, [...]

GABON Politics 13/02/2019

The blunder that prompted a government reshuffle

Due to be sworn in on 13 February in Rabat, the new mines minister Tondy Ondo Mba owes his new position to an error of judgement by his predecessor, Christian Magnagna. The latest revelations. [...]

GABON Politics 16/01/2019

Faustin Boukoubi, the anti-Brice Laccruche speaker

Elected in October as MP for Pana, his native village in the south-eastern province of Ogooue-Lolo, 65-year-old Faustin Boukoubi was [...]

FRANCE GABON Politics 16/01/2019

Investigation opened into ‘Libreville commando unit'

The abortive putsch on 7 January in Libreville has prompted Paris to ascertain why a French commando unit was present in Gabon just a few weeks previously. [...]

IVORY COAST Politics 02/01/2019

Mamadi Diane back in the limelight

Alassane Ouattara's former diplomatic advisor Mamadi Diane is making a discreet comeback within the presidential entourage. The American-Ivorian businessman, who [...]

GABON Politics 02/01/2019

An unhappy Christmas for the ambassadors

Having been reluctantly pensioned off, several ambassadors are now facing an audit of their finances. [...]

Spotlight

GABON Politics 02/01/2019

Shadowy presence of French commando squad unnerves Libreville

In the absence of Ali Bongo, who is convalescing in Morocco after suffering a stroke in Riyadh on 24 October, the Gabonese government has rapidly disintegrated into squabbling factions. And in this already febrile climate, the arrival in Libreville of [. [...]

CONGO GABON Politics 28/11/2018

Sassou Nguesso keeps a close eye on Ali Bongo's health

Close to Jean Ping, the Congolese president is closely following news of his ailing counterpart, whom he does not hold in the highest esteem. [...]

Spotlight

CENTRAL AFRICA WEST AFRICA Politics 28/11/2018

Why African presidents are looking beyond France for their healthcare

For many years regulars at the Val de Grace military hospital in Paris, African heads of state are now increasingly likely to get their check-ups in Saudi Arabia, Morocco or Israel rather than checking into a clinic in the French [. [...]

GABON Politics 27/11/2018

Sylvia Bongo drops her opposition to Ali Bongo convalescing in Morocco

Having battled for two weeks to have her husband taken to Europe (WAN 788), first lady Sylvia Bongo has published [...]

GABON Politics 21/11/2018

Exclusive: Ali Bongo headed for Morocco

Having regained consciousness ten days ago, the Gabonese president Ali Bongo is, according to our information, preparing to leave the [...]

GABON Politics 14/11/2018

Ismael Oceni Ossa prays for Ali Bongo

Ismael Oceni Ossa, the president of the Conseil superieur des affaires islamiques du Gabon (CSAIG) whose rais (religious leader) is [...]

GABON Politics 14/11/2018

For how long can Bongo leave his chair vacant?

While acknowledging the president's ill health, Libreville is being evasive about his convalescence. The West Africa Newsletter has the exclusive inside track. [...]

GABON Politics 31/10/2018

Lucie Milebou-Aubusson, the putative president

The name of 61-year-old Lucie Milebou-Aubusson, who has been the president of the Senate since 2015 and is the country's [...]

GABON Politics 03/10/2018

Jean-Gaspard Ntoutoume Ayi sets his sights on leading the opposition

The 50-year-old Jean-Gaspard Ntoutoume Ayi, who acted as Jean Ping's spokesman in the presidential election of August 2016, will be [...]

GABON Politics 23/05/2018

Ali Bongo keeps it in the family

Despite opening the new government up to the opposition, the president continues to surround himself with a small handful of loyal relatives. Analysis. [...]

Breaking newsGABON 22/02/2018

Brice Laccruche Alihanga shows his power in government reshuffle

Even though it looks none too far-reaching, the February 20 Gabonese government reshuffle shows the growing influence of presidential chief [...]

GABON Politics 24/01/2018

Ali Bongo's efforts to isolate Jean Ping

The foreign travel ban on the former AU head is part of a strategy to progressively sideline him in the run-up to the legislative elections. [...]

GABON Politics 13/09/2017

Ali Bongo, still holding out…

The president is relying ever more heavily on his teke circle to face down his opponents. [...]

GABON Politics 26/07/2017

Alexandre Barro-Chambrier proposes himself as the third way

Having toured Europe in early July to raise awareness of the post-electoral crisis in Gabon, Alexandre Barro Chambrier, the 59-year-old [...]

Spotlight

GABON Politics 23/03/2016

Bongo sets off on steep, narrow path to reelection

With only six months to go before Gabon’s presidential elections, witch-hunts are the order of the day in Libreville. At the annual conference of the ruling PDG (Parti Democratique Gabonais) in the Gabonese capital on March 12, President Ali Bongo [. [...]

Spotlight

GABON Politics 25/11/2015

Ali Bongo tightens grip on power

As they grapple with an opposition that is increasingly restive, Gabonese leader Ali Bongo’s faithful allies are now also trying to deal with dissent inside the ruling PDG (Parti Democratique Gabonais) party. To show the doubters who is boss, Bongo [. [...]

Set up email notifications for these topics

GABON
Ali Bongo
Brice Laccruche Alihanga
Emmanuel Issoze Ngondet
Frederic Bongo
Ike Ngouoni
Jean Ping
Johns Hopkins University
Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo
Omar Bongo
Parti Democratique Gabonais
Republican Guard
Sylvia Bongo
Union nationale
Zacharie Myboto

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How the state will make do without its leader

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Set up email notifications for these topics

Bongo's new prime minister lessens first lady's influence in government

Paris suspends sale of armoured vehicles to Republican Guard ahead of elections

Laccruche's court case makes regime's praetorian guard uneasy

Traditional Ndjobi order gains new master after death of "Papa Andjoua"

Bongo family opts for long European holiday

Omar Denis Jr Bongo cuts an increasingly solitary figure

The forced exile of Frédéric Bongo

Ambitions rife at presidential palace

Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo in eye of storm

Ali Bongo and his heirs apparent

Edgard Anicet Mboumbou Miyakou, Bongo's go-to man for legal affairs

Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo anticipates non-return of Ali Bongo

Influential Olam director Gagan Gupta to leave Libreville

The blunder that prompted a government reshuffle

Faustin Boukoubi, the anti-Brice Laccruche speaker

Investigation opened into ‘Libreville commando unit'

Mamadi Diane back in the limelight

An unhappy Christmas for the ambassadors

Shadowy presence of French commando squad unnerves Libreville

Sassou Nguesso keeps a close eye on Ali Bongo's health

Why African presidents are looking beyond France for their healthcare

Sylvia Bongo drops her opposition to Ali Bongo convalescing in Morocco

Exclusive: Ali Bongo headed for Morocco

Ismael Oceni Ossa prays for Ali Bongo

For how long can Bongo leave his chair vacant?

Lucie Milebou-Aubusson, the putative president

Jean-Gaspard Ntoutoume Ayi sets his sights on leading the opposition

Ali Bongo keeps it in the family

Brice Laccruche Alihanga shows his power in government reshuffle

Ali Bongo's efforts to isolate Jean Ping

Ali Bongo, still holding out…

Alexandre Barro-Chambrier proposes himself as the third way

Bongo sets off on steep, narrow path to reelection

Ali Bongo tightens grip on power

Set up email notifications for these topics

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