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Gabon’s Inauguration: Shettima Among African Leaders Present for Nguema’s Swearing-In

Vice President Kashim Shettima joined a gathering of African leaders in Libreville, Gabon, on Saturday, to witness the inauguration of Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema as the Gabonese President.

The event marked a key moment in Gabon’s political transition following elections.

President Nguema’s inauguration, held at the Stade de l’Amitié sino-gabonaise, was a grand ceremony featuring military parades, march pasts, and displays of Gabon’s rich cultural heritage.

Nguema secured his position after winning the presidential election on April 12, 2025, where he defeated seven other candidates.

He had previously served as the interim President for twenty months, following a change in government that saw the ouster of former President Ali Bongo.

In his inaugural address, President Nguema expressed his gratitude to the Gabonese people for their support and pledged to prioritise the nation’s development, with a strong focus on youth empowerment. He also committed to addressing the challenges of insecurity, criminality, and inadequate water supply.

The newly inaugurated President acknowledged the role of the United Nations and called for peaceful coexistence among African nations.

Vice President Kashim Shettima represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the ceremony.

According to a statement released via his verified X account, the Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, “Nigeria remains supportive of the peaceful democratic transition in Gabon and reaffirms the government’s broader strategic interest in promoting democratic governance and regional stability in Central Africa.”

The inauguration was attended by a total of fifteen African Heads of State, showcasing regional solidarity.

These leaders included President Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, Faustin-Archange Touadéra of Central African Republic, Adama Barrow of The Gambia, Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, Félix Tshisekedi of Democratic Republic of Congo, Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno of Chad, Denis Sassou Nguesso of Republic of Congo, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, and Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi.

Shettima was accompanied on the trip by the Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, Usman Bello Kumo, and the Special Adviser to the President on General Duties (Office of the Vice President), Dr. Aliyu Modibbo. He has since returned to Abuja.

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