Oyem

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

Geography

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]

History

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]

Economy

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.

Facilities

Within the town is a hospital, two churches, an agricultural school, a government secondary school, and a customs station.^[1]

Demographics

Year	Population[8]
1993	22,404
2003	35,241
2013	60,684

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Gabon

Twin towns – sister cities

Oyem is twinned with:

• Clermont-Ferrand, France^[9]

Notable people

• Daniel Ona Ondo - Gabonese prime minister
• Guélor Kanga - Gabonese football player

See also

• Oyem Solar Power Station

References

1. "Oyem". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
2. "Typhoid fever breaks out in northern Gabon". Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. 2005-01-07.
3. "Gabon: Tourism and Investment Guide to Gabon". Countries of the World. 1991-01-01. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
4. Hopgood, Mei-Ling (2003-10-30). "Female Volunteers Warned Peace Corps about Danger in Gabon". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on 2010-02-23. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
5. "Gabonese town slays 50 stray dogs". Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. 2004-03-17.
6. "Privatised water company runs into supply problems". IRIN. 2005-01-24. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
7. "A SYNOPSIS OF THE JEWS OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA". Sub-Saharan African Synagogues. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
8. "Oyem". World Gazetteer. Retrieved 2008-08-13.^{[dead link‍]}
9. "National Commission for Decentralised cooperation". Délégation pour l’Action Extérieure des Collectivités Territoriales (Ministère des Affaires étrangères) (in French). Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-12-26.