Libreville: Vice-President Kashim Shettima, alongside other African leaders, on Saturday joined thousands of Gabonese citizens to witness the inauguration of the newly elected President of Gabon, Brice Nguema.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Nguema emerged as the President of Gabon on April 12, 2025, after defeating seven other candidates in the country’s recent presidential election. Prior to his election, Nguema had served as the interim President for 20 months following a change in government and the ouster of former President Ali Bongo.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Stade de l’Amiti© sino-gabonaise in Libreville, Gabon, featured military parades, a march past, and a display of Gabon’s rich cultural heritage. In his inauguration speech, Nguema expressed gratitude to the citizens for their overwhelming support, which contributed to his emergence as a democratically elected leader.
Nguema pledged to work diligently for the development of Gabon and to empower the youth to secure the nation’s future. He also promised to address the challenges of insecurity and criminality that plague the country, and to tackle the issue of inadequate water supply.
Recognizing the role of the United Nations, Nguema pledged to collaborate with them and called for peaceful coexistence among African nations. Other Heads of State present at the event included President Teodoro Nguema of Equatorial Guinea, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, John Mahama of Ghana, Faustin-Archange Touad©ra of the Central African Republic, and Adama Barrow of Gambia, among others.
