Vice President Kashim Shettima joined world leaders in Libreville on Saturday to inaugurate Gabon’s new president, Brice Oligui Nguema.
According to Stanley Nkwocha, senior special assistant to the president on media and communications (office of the vice-president), the ceremony took place after Nguema won the presidential election on April 12.
He overcame seven other contenders to win the poll.
Following the departure of former President Ali Bongo, Nguema served as interim president for 20 months.
The inauguration included military parades, a marchpast, and a demonstration of Gabon’s cultural heritage.
In his address, Nguema thanked citizens for their support and pledged to work for the country’s development.
“I will work hard for the development of Gabon and empower our youth to secure the future of our nation,” he said.
He promised to tackle insecurity, criminality, and water scarcity in the country.
The Gabonese leader acknowledged the role of the United Nations and called for peaceful coexistence among African nations.
Aside from Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the ceremony, other heads of state in attendance included Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, John Mahama of Ghana, Faustin-Archange Touadéra of the Central African Republic, and Adama Barrow of The Gambia.
Others were Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno of Chad, Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, and Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi.
Shettima was accompanied on the trip by Usman Bello Kumo, chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, and Aliyu Modibbo, special adviser to the President on General Duties (office of the Vice President).
The Vice President has since returned to Abuja.
Nguema terminated more than five decades of the Bongo family hegemony in August 2023.
As chief of the country’s presidential guard, he led a group of soldiers in seizing power from Ali Bongo following a contentious election.
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