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.
Rose Christiane Raponda | |
|---|---|
 Raponda in 2022 | |
| 6th Vice President of Gabon | |
| In office 9 January 2023 – 30 August 2023 | |
| President | Ali Bongo Ondimba |
| Preceded by | Pierre Claver Maganga Moussavou (2019) |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Owondault Berre |
| 12th Prime Minister of Gabon | |
| In office 16 July 2020 – 9 January 2023 | |
| President | Ali Bongo Ondimba |
| Preceded by | Julien Nkoghe Bekale |
| Succeeded by | Alain Claude Bilie By Nze |
| Defense Minister of Gabon | |
| In office 12 February 2019 – 16 July 2020 | |
| President | Ali Bongo Ondimba |
| Prime Minister | Julien Nkoghe Bekale |
| Preceded by | Étienne Massard Kabinda Makaga |
| Succeeded by | Michael Moussa Adamo |
| Mayor of Libreville | |
| In office 26 January 2014 – 12 February 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Jean-François Ntoutoume Emane |
| Succeeded by | Léandre Nzué |
| Minister of Budget, Public Accounts and Civil Service | |
| In office 27 February 2012 – 25 January 2014 | |
| President | Ali Bongo Ondimba |
| Prime Minister | Raymond Ndong Sima |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 June 1963 Franceville, Gabon |
| Nationality | Gabonese |
| Political party | Gabonese Democratic Party |
| Occupation | Economist |
Background
editRaponda 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
editRaponda 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- ^ "Biographie du Premier Ministre Chef du gouvernement Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze".
- ^ "Rose Christiane Ossouka de maire de Libreville à ministre de la Défense nationale". 31 January 2019.
- ^ "Exécutif : Ossouka-Raponda, première femme cheffe du gouvernement". 17 July 2020.
- ^ "Gabon names vice-president and new prime minister". Reuters. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "Gabon: Rose Christian Ossouka Raponda named first-ever female VP". 9 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "Gabon Names Vice-President and New Prime Minister". 9 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ Mouega, Mondjo (16 July 2020). "Gabon: Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda nommée Premier ministre". Gabon Media Time (in French). Retrieved 16 July 2020..
- ^ "Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda". Leaders Afrique (in French). 22 September 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Gabon: Mrs Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda elected Mayor of Libreville". All Africa. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
- ^ a b "Gabon appoints first woman prime minister amid government shakeup". Reuters. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ a b "Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda in uncharted territory". Africa Intelligence. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Ndungidi, Patrick (30 January 2019). "Gabon: Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda nommée ministre de la défense". African Shapers (in French). Retrieved 14 July 2019.
- ^ Solo,mon, Salem (24 February 2019). "African Women Surmount Obstacles to Redefine Their Countries' Militaries". VOA News. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
- ^ "Gabon cabinet reshuffle". Africa News. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
- ^ Eric Mbog Batassi (16 July 2020). "Gabon Names First Woman as Prime Minister in Cabinet Reshuffle". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ "Gabon: A woman appointed Prime Minister, a première". The North Africa Post. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.