Gabon Names Rose Raponda As First Female Vice-President

Gabon’s President, Ali Bongo has appointed the country’s first female Prime Minister Rose Raponda to the role of vice president and named a new Prime Minister to replace her.

Raponda is also the first female Vice President to be appointed in Gabon.

Report says she had to navigate a delicate political scene as Prime Minister after a coup attempt in 2019 while Bongo was on prolonged medical leave following a stroke.

While, Former minister, Alain Nze will replace Raponda and form a new government, Bongo’s Secretary General, Jean Teale said in a video statement posted on the presidency’s Twitter account.

Raponda was appointed Prime Minister in July 2020 after her predecessor stepped down, although she was defence minister before that.

She has also been appointed as budget minister in 2012 before being elected mayor of the capital Libreville in 2014, becoming the first woman to hold that position since 1956.