By RFIPalled on 06-12-2019Modified on 06-12-2019 at 07:21

The mission of Noureddin Bongo Valentin: "Assist the President of the Republic in the conduct of all affairs of the State and ensure the strict application of its decisions." The son of Gabon's head of state thus has a cabinet.

Noureddin Bongo Ondimba was appointed Thursday evening in the Council of Ministers to the functions of general coordinator of presidential affairs. The job is not new, but the eldest son of the Gabonese president is the youngest to occupy it.

If he had no official office yet, his shadow seemed ubiquitous at the top of the state. Many political analysts have suspected Noureddin Bongo Valentin of orchestrating the fall of Brice Laccruche Alihanga , former strongman of the presidential palace suddenly fallen out of favor.

Would Ali Bongo prepare his estate?

When Ali Bongo is elected President of the Republic in 2009, he makes appearances with the young Noureddin. But he does not launch it into politics. It is rather Malika Bongo, eldest daughter of the Head of State, who enters gently into the seraglio. Last October, she was elected MP in Bongoville, the family's stronghold.

Noureddin Bongo Valentin is more interested in business. During the first seven years, he facilitates some access to his father. His influence goes up a notch when Ali Bongo is struck by a stroke a year ago. With Sylvia Bongo, his mother, he is one of the few to have the president's health newsletter. For some time, he has taken up residence at the presidential palace.

The opposition suspects Ali Bongo of wanting to prepare him for the succession. False, retorts a source close to the presidency of the Republic, which specifies that Noureddin Bongo Valentin was chosen for his skills.

    On the same subject

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    Gabon: a reshuffle rules out Ali Bongo's former cabinet director

    Gabon: new indictments in the context of the anti-corruption operation

    Anti-corruption operation in Gabon: eight imprisoned personalities

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