Rose Christiane Raponda

Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda (born 1964) is a Gabonese politician who is currently serving as Prime Minister of Gabon since 16 July 2020, making her the first female prime minister of the country.[1] She previously served as the Mayor of Libreville and later as the country's Defense Minister from February 2019 to July 2020.

Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda
Raponda in 2015
Prime Minister of Gabon
Assumed office
16 July 2020
PresidentAli Bongo Ondimba
Preceded byJulien Nkoghe Bekale
Defense Minister of Gabon
In office
12 February 2019 – 16 July 2020
Preceded byÉtienne Massard Kabinda Makaga
Mayor of Libreville
In office
26 January 2014 – 12 February 2019
Personal details
Born1964 (age 56–57)
Libreville, Gabon
Political partyGabonese Democratic Party

Background

Raponda was born in 1964 in Libreville.[2] Raponda is a member of the Mpongwe people.[3] Raponda received a degree in economics and public finance from the Gabonese Institute of Economy and Finance.[4]

Career

Raponda worked as Director General of the Economy and Deputy Director General the Housing Bank of Gabon.[4] She served as minister of budget and public finance from February 2012 until January 2014.[4][5] Raponda was elected Mayor of the capital city Libreville on 26 January 2014, representing the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party.[3] She was the first woman to hold the position since 1956 and she served until 2019.[6][7] She also became President of United Cities and Local Governments Africa.[8]

On 12 February 2019, Raponda was appointed as the Defense Minister of Gabon by president Ali Bongo Ondimba after the failed coup in January 2019.[7][9][10] Raponda replaced Etienne Massard Kabinda Makaga, a member of the Bongo family, who had held the position since 2016.[11] On 16 July 2020, Raponda was appointed as the Prime Minister of Gabon, after her predecessor Julien Nkoghe Bekale stepped down.[6] She is the first woman to hold the position. Her appointment is the fourth cabinet shuffle by Ondimba since the failed coup.[12] Her appointment comes during the dual health and economic crises due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the fall in the price of oil, one of the country's main resources.[13]

References
  1. Mouega, Mondjo (16 July 2020). "Gabon: Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda nommée Premier ministre". Gabon Media Time (in French). Retrieved 16 July 2020..
  2. "Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda". Leaders Afrique (in French).
  3. Dougueli, Georges (21 January 2014). "Gabon : Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, le nouveau visage de Libreville". Jeune Afrique (in French). Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  4. Gras, Romain (12 February 2019). "Gabon : Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, de la mairie de Librevelle au ministère de la Défense". Jeune Afrique (in French). Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  5. "Gabon: Mrs Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda elected Mayor of Libreville". All Africa. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  6. "Gabon appoints first woman prime minister amid government shakeup". Reuters. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  7. "Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda in uncharted territory". Africa Intelligence. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  8. "Meetings of the Statutory Bodies for United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) & International Conference: African Cities: Engines of Sustainable Development - Cairo, Hotel Conrad, June 17-20, 2019". Africa News. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  9. Ndungidi, Patrick (30 January 2019). "Gabon: Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda nommée ministre de la défense". African Shapers (in French). Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  10. Solo,mon, Salem (24 February 2019). "African Women Surmount Obstacles to Redefine Their Countries' Militaries". VOA News. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  11. "Gabon cabinet reshuffle". Africa News. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  12. Eric Mbog Batassi (16 July 2020). "Gabon Names First Woman as Prime Minister in Cabinet Reshuffle". Bloomberg. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  13. "Gabon: A woman appointed Prime Minister, a première". The North Africa Post. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by
Julien Nkoghe Bekale		 Prime Minister of Gabon
2020–present		 Incumbent
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