Oyem
Place in Woleu-Ntem Province, Gabon From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Oyem is the capital of Woleu-Ntem province in northern Gabon, lying on the N2 road and the River Ntem.
Oyem | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Coat of arms | |
  Oyem Location in Gabon | |
| Coordinates: 1°36′N 11°34′E | |
| Country |  Gabon |
| Province | Woleu-Ntem Province |
| Department | Woleu Department |
| Elevation | 900 m (3,000 ft) |
| Population (2013 census) | |
| • Total | 60,685 |
The town lies on a plateau at an elevation of about 3,000 feet (910 m). It is the administrative and transport center for the surrounding agricultural area.[1] Oyem is located 411 kilometers away from the national capital, Libreville.[2]
Oyem is named after a large tree that grows around the town.[3] In the 1990s, there were several female Peace Corps officers raped and murdered in Gabon, stirring controversy over the safety of its locations.[4]
The town was sieged by rabid dogs in March 2004, who killed three of five residents infected. The town council was forced to shoot 50 strays.[5]
In October 2004, Oyem was affected by water and power cuts. In December of that year, it was severely affected by a rare typhoid fever outbreak which spread across northern Gabon.[2] About 50 cases were reported in Oyem.[6]
A small Jewish community composed of former Christians has developed in Oyem. The community practices Jewish customs, but does not yet have a synagogue.[7]
Cocoa and coffee are the most important cash crops in Oyem and are trucked to the Cameroon ports of Kribi and Douala for export. Rubber and potatoes are also farmed.[1] The town has an airport, Oyem Airport.
Within the town is a hospital, two churches, an agricultural school, a government secondary school, and a customs station.[1]
| Year | Population[8] |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 22,404 |
| 2003 | 35,241 |
| 2013 | 60,684 |
Twin towns – sister cities
Oyem is twinned with:
Clermont-Ferrand, France[9]
- Daniel Ona Ondo - Gabonese prime minister
- Guélor Kanga - Gabonese football player
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