Raymond Ndong Sima, an economist and former prime minister, was named Gabon’s transitional prime minister following the military coup that toppled President Ali Bongo. This appointment occurs in a context of political tensions and contestation of the legitimacy of the power in place.
Raymond Ndong Sima, who had been Ali Bongo’s Prime Minister from 2012 to 2014, had gradually moved away from power and had become a virulent opponent, regularly criticizing the president’s governance. He even ran against him in the presidential elections of 2016 and 2023, before withdrawing in favor of a common opposition candidate.
The appointment of Raymond Ndong Sima as transitional Prime Minister is therefore a strong signal of the new power’s desire to form an inclusive government, bringing together representatives from different political families. The economist also declared that he wanted to consult widely before forming his government, in order to guarantee balanced representation of all political forces.
This appointment also comes as part of the transition period announced by the president of the transition, General Brice Oligui Nguema. He has pledged to hold free elections at the end of this period, but has not yet set a precise duration for it. He also announced the development of a new Constitution in collaboration with the country’s different political forces.
It is important to note that this political transition in Gabon follows a coup d’état led by the military, who overthrew Ali Bongo on the grounds of a presidential election deemed fraudulent. The coup took place without bloodshed and was supported by a large part of the political opposition, as well as a part of the population, which sees in this development an opportunity to put an end to the “dynasty Bongo” who governed the country for more than 55 years.
It is still too early to predict the exact consequences of this appointment on the political situation in Gabon. However, it represents an important step towards the formation of an inclusive transitional government and the holding of free elections in the near future. Gabon is a country to follow closely, because its political development will certainly have repercussions on the entire region.