Gabon: Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze appointed Prime Minister

Alain-Claude Bilie By Nzé, then Gabonese Minister of Foreign Affairs, in 2018, was appointed Prime Minister on Monday January 9, 2023.

AFP/Steve Jordan

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Christiane Ossouka Raponda who became, in July 2020, the first woman head of a Gabonese government, was appointed, this Monday, January 9, Vice-President of the Republic by President Ali Bongo.

She is replaced at the prime minister's office by Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze, who is responsible for forming a new government.

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With our correspondent in Libreville,

Yves-Laurent Goma

A real political beast, Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze felt his hour was ticking.

Only three months ago, Ali Bongo carried out a mini government reshuffle to propel his Minister of State to the post of Prime Minister in charge of water and electricity.

Aged 56, Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze was already one of the men who spoke in Ali Bongo's ear during his first term.

In March 2012, Bilie By Nze returned to the presidency as political adviser and spokesperson.

Three years later, he returned to government as Minister of Communication.

A perfect orator, he retained the functions of government spokesman.

As such, he was on all fronts, before and after the 2016 presidential election.

After the post-election protest of 2016, Bilie By Nze is far from the first square of the faithful of the President of the Republic.

Then his star began to shine very brightly again, less than a year from the next presidential election.

The government he will form will probably have the mission of ensuring the re-election of Ali Bongo.

As for Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, the first female head of government in Gabon, she was promoted to Vice-President of the Republic and also became the first woman to hold this position.

Read also: Gabon: Ali Bongo proposes a meeting with the opposition on the elections

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