Prime Minister of Gabon

The prime minister of Gabon (French: Premier ministre de la République gabonaise) is the head of government of Gabon.

Prime Minister of the Gabonese Republic
Premier ministre de la République gabonaise
Coat of arms of Gabon
Incumbent Raymond Ndong Sima (Transitional)[1] since 7 September 2023
Appointer	President of Gabon
Inaugural holder	Léon M'ba Casimir Oyé-Mba (Third Republic; since 1991)
Formation	17 August 1960

The position was first created in 1960, upon the country's independence from France, but was soon abolished by a new constitution adopted on 21 February 1961. It was, however, restored by constitutional amendments enacted on 16 April 1975 and was also retained in the subsequent constitution adopted in 1991.^[2] The prime minister has been the head of government of Gabon from 1960 until 1961 (under a parliamentary system) and since 1981 (under a strong semi-presidential system). The President of Gabon was the country's head of government from 1961 until 1981 (until 1975 under a presidential system without a prime minister and then under a presidential system with a prime minister).

A total of thirteen people have served as Prime Minister, twelve men and one woman.

Description of the office

The President of the Republic nominates the Prime Minister.^[3]

The President may terminate the prime minister's post, of his own initiative or by the prime minister's presentation of his or her resignation from the Government, or following a vote of disapproval or the adoption of a motion of censure by the National Assembly.^[3]

By proposal, the prime minister may nominate other members of the Government and terminate their posts.^[3]

The prime minister may stand in for the President by express authorization and for a determined agenda.^[4]

Within forty-five (45) days, after the nomination and deliberation of the Council of Ministers, the prime minister will present before the National Assembly his or her general policy program that will lead to an open debate, followed by a vote of confidence. The vote is obtained by an absolute majority of the members of the National Assembly.^[5]

The prime minister directs the actions of the Government. The prime minister assures the execution of the laws. According to the conditions of Article 20 mentioned above, the Prime Minister exercises regulatory power and nominates civil and military posts of the State. The Prime Minister stands in for the President of the Republic in the aforementioned situations. The prime minister may delegate certain powers to other members of Government.^[6]

A replacement for the prime minister is assured by a member of the Government designated by a decree of the President of the Republic, according to the order of nomination of the decree that arranged the composition of the Government.^[6]

The Minister taking over the duties of the prime minister in the interim is temporarily invested with the full rights and powers of the position.^[6]

The actions of the prime minister are to be countersigned by the members of the Government charged with their execution.^[6]

The Prime Minister is the Chief of Government.^[7]

List of officeholders

Political parties

  Gabonese Democratic Bloc (BDG) → Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG)

Other factions

  Independent

Status

  Denotes acting or transitional prime minister

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Election	Term of office			Political party	President(s)
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Léon M'ba (1902–1967)	1961	17 August 1960	21 February 1961	188 days	BDG	Himself
Post abolished (21 February 1961 – 16 April 1975)
2		Léon Mébiame (1934–2015)[a]	1980 1985	16 April 1975	3 May 1990	15 years, 17 days	PDG	O. Bongo
3		Casimir Oyé-Mba (1942–2021)	1990	3 May 1990	2 November 1994	4 years, 183 days	Independent
4		Paulin Obame-Nguema (1934–2023)	1996	2 November 1994	23 January 1999	4 years, 82 days	PDG
5		Jean-François Ntoutoume Emane (born 1939)	2005	23 January 1999	20 January 2006	6 years, 362 days	PDG
6		Jean Eyeghé Ndong (born 1946)	2006	20 January 2006	17 July 2009	3 years, 178 days	PDG
								Divungi Di Ndinge
								Rogombé
7		Paul Biyoghé Mba (born 1953)	2011	17 July 2009	27 February 2012	2 years, 225 days	PDG
								A. Bongo
8		Raymond Ndong Sima (born 1955)	—	27 February 2012	27 January 2014	1 year, 334 days	PDG
9		Daniel Ona Ondo (born 1945)	—	27 January 2014	28 September 2016	2 years, 245 days	PDG
10		Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet (1961–2020)	2018	28 September 2016	12 January 2019[b]	2 years, 106 days	PDG
11		Julien Nkoghe Bekale (born 1958)	—	12 January 2019	16 July 2020	1 year, 186 days	PDG
12		Rose Christiane Raponda (born 1963)	—	16 July 2020	9 January 2023	2 years, 177 days	PDG
13		Alain Claude Bilie By Nze (born 1967)	—	9 January 2023	30 August 2023 (Deposed in a coup)	233 days	PDG
Post vacant (30 August – 7 September 2023)
—		Raymond Ndong Sima (born 1955)	—	7 September 2023	Incumbent	1 year, 110 days	Independent	Oligui

Timeline

Notes

1. From 1961 to 1981 the President of Gabon was both head of state and head of government, while the Prime Minister only assisted him in managing government affairs.
2. Replaced in the aftermath of the 2019 coup d'état attempt.

See also

• President of Gabon
  • First Lady of Gabon
• Vice President of Gabon
• List of colonial governors of Gabon
• Politics of Gabon

References

1. "Gabon junta names former PM Raymond Ndong Sima as interim PM - statement". Reuters. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
2. "Revisions Constitutionelles : Contextes".
3. Article 15 of the Constitution of 1991.
4. Article 22 of the Constitution of 1991.
5. Article 28a of the Constitution of 1991.
6. Article 29 of the Constitution of 1991.
7. Article 31 of the Constitution of 1991.

External links

• World Statesmen – Gabon
• 1991 Constitution of Gabon (as amended in 2011) (in English)