He was a virulent opponent of President Ali Bongo, overthrown by the military a week ago. Economist Raymond Ndong Sima was appointed Prime Minister of Gabon by the transitional president, General Brice Oligui Nguema, according to a decree read on state television on Thursday September 7.
Mr. Ndong Sima, 68, had been Mr. Bongo’s prime minister from 2012 to 2014 but had moved away from power, which he regularly accused of bad governance, until he ran against the head of state in the presidential elections of 2016 and 2023.
General Oligui, who led the August 30 coup against a barely proclaimed re-elected Ali Bongo in a fraudulent election according to the military, was sworn in Monday as president of a transition period from which he did not not set the duration, and at the end of which he promised “free elections”.
On Monday he also announced the formation of a transitional government comprising personalities from all political sides.
