Brice Oligui Nguema

Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema (French pronunciation: [bʁis klɔ.tɛʁ ɔ.li.gi ŋgɛ.ma]; born 3 March 1975) be Gabonese politician and military officer wey currently serve as de fourth presido of Gabon since May 2025. Before dem swear am in officially, he serve as transitional leader from 2023 after he lead di military coup wey remove Presido Ali Bongo Ondimba from power. From 2023 until his formal assumption of de presidency, Oligui Nguema be de chairman of de Committee for de Transition and Restoration of Institutions, de body wey oversee de interim government. He sana serve as commander-in-chief of de Gabonese Republican Guard since 2020, a powerful elite military unit wey dey responsible for presidential security plus national stability. 

Oligui be member of de Bongo family plus e play key role insyd overthrow wey dem do topple ein cousin Ali Bongo during de 2023 coup. He run for president insyd de 2025 presidential election wey he win am plus more than 90% of de vote. 

 Early life 
De son of one Teke mommie plus one Fang military officer, Oligui born insyd Haut-Ogooué Province, Gabon, wey dem dey see am as stronghold of de ruling Bongo family. He be maternal cousin of Ali Bongo, wey be ein predecessor as president. Oligui mostly grow under ein mommie plus her family insyd Haut-Ogooué, plus he go Omar Bongo University go learn book.

 Career 
Oligui study for Meknes Royal Military Academy insyd Morocco. He serve as aide-de-camp to President Omar Bongo till de man ein death for 2009. Afta dat, he serve as military attaché for de Gabonese embassies insyd Morocco den Senegal.

For October 2018, dem call am back go Gabon, wey he take over from President Ali Bongo ein half-broda Colonel Frédéric Bongo as de head of de intelligence service for de Republican Guard. Dem promote am go brigadier general for April 2019. For 2021, he start Operation Mamba again, one campaign to arrest corrupt officials.

He take over as head of de Gabonese Republican Guard for April 2020, wey he replace General Grégoire Kouna, wey be cousin of den-President Ali Bongo. He boost de Special Interventions Section (SIS), one special unit wey dey under direct command of de President, from about thirty to over 300 men. He sana compose one song wey e line talk say “I go defend my president plus honour den loyalty.”

One 2020 investigation by de Organized Crime plus Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) show say he get plenty properties for de US wey dey cost more dan $1 million, plus he help expand de Bongos dem overseas businesses. When dem ask am about dis tins, he talk say na “private affair.”

People wey dey Bongo ein regime plus others wey sabi Oligui talk say he be “fairly intelligent man, easy to talk to”, “discreet” plus “man of consensus” wey “ein men dey appreciate am well.”

 Coup den presidency (2023–present) 
Main article: 2023 Gabonese coup d'état

For 30 August 2023, Nguema plus ein Republican Guards take over power without any resistance during one coup d'état. Dis one happen just few hours after electoral authorities announce for midnight say de current president, Ali Bongo, win ein third seven-year term plus 64% of de vote for de 2023 Gabonese presidential election wey happen few days before. After de coup, de Committee for de Transition plus Restoration of Institutions name Oligui as interim president of Gabon for announcement wey dem broadcast for state television. Dem later see am ontop de shoulders of happy army men wey dey hail am as "President".

For one interview plus Le Monde later dat day, he call Bongo "retired", plus talk say de military do de coup because people for de country no dey happy since Bongo ein stroke for 2018, ein choice to run again for third term, how dem dey ignore de country ein constitution, plus de way dem do de election. Other generals confirm am as interim president later, plus dem swear am in officially as "transitional president" for de Presidential Palace on 4 September. For ein inaugural speech, he promise say elections go dey "free, transparent", but he no give exact date. He sana talk say new government go come soon, plus propose new electoral law, new penal code, referendum for new constitution, plus release of all political prisoners.

For October 2023, Oligui announce say he go give up ein salary as president, make he rather depend on de money wey he dey take as commander of de Republican Guard.

For March 2025, Oligui announce say he go run for president by ein own self for de 2025 Gabonese presidential election wey happen on 12 April. Before de election reach, Oligui form ein political platform, Rally of Builders. He win de election plus nearly 95% of de vote, plus dem swear am in as president on 3 May.

 Personal life 
Oligui be a Christian. Ein brother-in-law Régis Onanga Ndiaye be ein Minister for Foreign Affairs.

 Notes 

 Transitional: De facto from 30 August 2023 until 4 September, de jure from 4 September 2023 until 3 May 2025
 With Grégoire Kouna until 8 April 2020, but not afterwards. Alongside Antoine Balekidra (acting) since 18 September 2023.

 References 

Category:1975 births
Category:Human
Category:Gabonese people
Category:Presidents of Gabon
Category:Leaders wey take power by coup
Category:20th-century Gabonese people
Category:21st-century Gabonese politicians
Category:Bongo family
Category:Brigadier generals
Category:African military personnel
Category:Military attachés
Category:Omar Bongo University alumni
Category:Gabonese expatriates insyd Morocco
Category:Fang people
Category:Teke people
Category:People wey komot Haut-Ogooué Province
Category:Gabonese Roman Catholics

 External links