Rose Christiane Raponda

Rose Christiane Raponda
Raponda in 2022
6th Vice President of Gabon
In office
9 January 2023 – 30 August 2023
PresidentAli Bongo Ondimba
Preceded byPierre Claver Maganga Moussavou (2019)
Succeeded byJoseph Owondault Berre
12th Prime Minister of Gabon
In office
16 July 2020 – 9 January 2023
PresidentAli Bongo Ondimba
Preceded byJulien Nkoghe Bekale
Succeeded byAlain Claude Bilie By Nze
Defense Minister of Gabon
In office
12 February 2019 – 16 July 2020
PresidentAli Bongo Ondimba
Prime MinisterJulien Nkoghe Bekale
Preceded byÉtienne Massard Kabinda Makaga
Succeeded byMichael Moussa Adamo
Mayor of Libreville
In office
26 January 2014 – 12 February 2019
Preceded byJean-François Ntoutoume Emane
Succeeded byLéandre Nzué
Minister of Budget, Public Accounts and Civil Service
In office
27 February 2012 – 25 January 2014
PresidentAli Bongo Ondimba
Prime MinisterRaymond Ndong Sima
Personal details
Born (1963-06-30) 30 June 1963 (age 61)
Franceville, Gabon
NationalityGabonese
Political partyGabonese Democratic Party
OccupationEconomist

Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda (born 30 June 1963[1][2][3]) is a Gabonese politician who served as the vice president of Gabon from January to August 2023, making her the country's first female vice president.[4][5][6] She previously served as Prime Minister of Gabon from July 2020 to January 2023, she was also the country's first female prime minister.[7] She also served as the mayor of Libreville and later as the country's defense minister from February 2019 to July 2020.

Background

[edit]

Raponda was born on 30 June 1963 in Franceville.[8] Raponda is a member of the Mpongwe people.[9] Raponda received a degree in economics and public finance from the Gabonese Institute of Economy and Finance.[10]

Career

[edit]

Raponda worked as Director General of the Economy and Deputy Director General the Housing Bank of Gabon.[10] She served as minister of budget and public finance from February 2012 until January 2014.[10][11] Raponda was elected mayor of the capital city Libreville on 26 January 2014, representing the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party.[9] She was the first woman to hold the position since 1956 and she served until 2019.[12][13] She also became president of United Cities and Local Governments Africa.[14]

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.[13][15][16] Raponda replaced Etienne Massard Kabinda Makaga, a member of the Bongo family, who had held the position since 2016.[17] On 16 July 2020, Raponda was appointed as the Prime Minister of Gabon, after her predecessor Julien Nkoghe Bekale stepped down.[12] She is the first woman to hold the position. Her appointment was the fourth cabinet shuffle by Ondimba since the failed coup[18] and occurred amid 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.[19]

On 30 August 2023 another coup succeeded, and Raponda was removed from power.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Biographie du Premier Ministre Chef du gouvernement Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze".
  2. ^ "Rose Christiane Ossouka de maire de Libreville à ministre de la Défense nationale". 31 January 2019.
  3. ^ "Exécutif : Ossouka-Raponda, première femme cheffe du gouvernement". 17 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Gabon names vice-president and new prime minister". Reuters. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Gabon: Rose Christian Ossouka Raponda named first-ever female VP". 9 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Gabon Names Vice-President and New Prime Minister". 9 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  7. ^ Mouega, Mondjo (16 July 2020). "Gabon: Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda nommée Premier ministre". Gabon Media Time (in French). Retrieved 16 July 2020..
  8. ^ "Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda". Leaders Afrique (in French). 22 September 2015.
  9. ^ a b Dougueli, Georges (21 January 2014). "Gabon : Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, le nouveau visage de Libreville". Jeune Afrique (in French). Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  10. ^ a b c 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.
  11. ^ "Gabon: Mrs Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda elected Mayor of Libreville". All Africa. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Gabon appoints first woman prime minister amid government shakeup". Reuters. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda in uncharted territory". Africa Intelligence. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ Ndungidi, Patrick (30 January 2019). "Gabon: Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda nommée ministre de la défense". African Shapers (in French). Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  16. ^ Solo,mon, Salem (24 February 2019). "African Women Surmount Obstacles to Redefine Their Countries' Militaries". VOA News. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  17. ^ "Gabon cabinet reshuffle". Africa News. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  18. ^ Eric Mbog Batassi (16 July 2020). "Gabon Names First Woman as Prime Minister in Cabinet Reshuffle". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Gabon: A woman appointed Prime Minister, a première". The North Africa Post. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of Gabon
2020–2023 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice President of Gabon
2023 		Succeeded by
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