Brice Oligui Nguema facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brice Oligui Nguema
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Oligui in 2025
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| 4th President of Gabon | |
| Assumed office 3 May 2025 |
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| Prime Minister | Raymond Ndong Sima (2023–2025) |
| Vice President | Joseph Owondault Berre (2023–2025) Séraphin Moundounga (2025–present) |
| Preceded by | Ali Bongo |
| Chairman of the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions | |
| In office 30 August 2023 – 2 May 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Commander-in-Chief of the Gabonese Republican Guard | |
| Assumed office 3 March 2020 |
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| Deputy | Antoine Balekidra |
| Preceded by | Grégoire Kouna |
| Minister of Defense and Security | |
| In office 4 September 2023 – 10 February 2024 |
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| Prime Minister | Raymond Ndong Sima |
| Succeeded by | Brigitte Onkanowa (Defense) Hermann Immongault (Security) |
| Chief of the Secret Service of the Gabonese Republican Guard and Generaldirector of the Special Service | |
| In office 16 October 2019 – 8 April 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Colonel Frédéric Bongo |
| Succeeded by | Unknown |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 March 1975 Ngouoni, Haut-Ogooué Province, Gabon |
| Political party | Rally of Builders (since 2025) |
| Other political affiliations |
Independent (until 2025) Democratic Union of Builders (since 2025) |
| Spouse | Zita Nyangue Oligui |
| Alma mater | Omar Bongo University Meknes Royal Military Academy |
| Website | https://oligui2025.ga/ |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Gabon |
| Branch/service | Gabonese Army |
| Years of service | 1990–present |
| Rank |  Brigadier general |
Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema (born 3 March 1975) is a Gabonese politician and a high-ranking military officer. He became the fourth President of Gabon in May 2025. Before that, he was the temporary leader from 2023. He also led a group called the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions until he became president. Since 2020, he has been the commander-in-chief of the Gabonese Republican Guard.
Oligui is related to the Bongo family. He played a key role in removing his cousin, Ali Bongo, from power in 2023. In the 2025 Gabonese presidential election, he ran for president and won with more than 90% of the votes.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Brice Oligui Nguema was born in Haut-Ogooué Province, Gabon, on March 3, 1975. This area is known as a strong base for the Bongo family, who have long been in power. His mother was from the Teke people, and his father was a Fang military officer.
He was mostly raised by his mother and her family in Haut-Ogooué. He later studied at Omar Bongo University in Gabon. For his military training, he attended the Meknes Royal Military Academy in Morocco.
Military and Political Career
After his military training, Oligui served as an aide-de-camp to President Omar Bongo. He held this position until President Bongo's death in 2009. After that, he worked as a military attaché at Gabonese embassies in Morocco and Senegal.
Return to Gabon and Promotions
In October 2018, Oligui returned to Gabon. He took over the intelligence service of the Republican Guard. He replaced Colonel Frédéric Bongo, who was the half-brother of then-President Ali Bongo. In April 2019, Oligui was promoted to the rank of brigadier general.
In 2021, he restarted a program called Operation Mamba. This program aimed to arrest government officials who were involved in corruption.
Leading the Republican Guard
In April 2020, Oligui became the head of the Gabonese Republican Guard. He took over from General Grégoire Kouna, who was also a cousin of President Ali Bongo. Under Oligui's leadership, a special unit called the Special Interventions Section (SIS) grew much larger. It increased from about 30 members to more than 300. This unit works directly under the President. Oligui even wrote a song that included the line, "I would defend my president with honour and loyalty."
Property Ownership
An investigation in 2020 found that Oligui owns several properties in the United States. These properties were valued at more than $1 million. When asked about these properties, he said it was a "private affair."
People who worked with Oligui described him as a "fairly intelligent man" and "easy to talk to." They also said he was "discreet" and "a man of consensus," meaning he was good at bringing people together. His soldiers also liked him very much.
Becoming President
The 2023 Transition
On August 30, 2023, Oligui and his Republican Guards took control of the country. This happened without any fighting. The event occurred just hours after the election results were announced. The results stated that the current president, Ali Bongo, had won a third term.
After this event, a group called the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions named Oligui as the temporary president of Gabon. This announcement was made on state television. People later saw him being celebrated by army personnel, who called him the "President."
In an interview, Oligui said that Ali Bongo was "retired." He explained that the military took action because people were unhappy. This unhappiness had grown since Bongo's health issues in 2018. People were also concerned about his decision to run for a third term, how the country's constitution was being followed, and how the election was run.
Oligui's role as temporary president was confirmed by other generals. He was officially sworn in as "transitional president" at the Presidential Palace on September 4. In his speech, he promised to hold "free, transparent" elections. However, he did not give an exact date. He also announced that a new government would be formed soon. He suggested new election laws, a new criminal code, and a vote on a new constitution. He also promised to release all political prisoners.
Running for President
In October 2023, Oligui announced that he would not take a salary as president. Instead, he would rely on his wages as commander of the Republican Guard. In March 2025, Oligui announced that he would run for president in the 2025 Gabonese presidential election. The election took place on April 12.
Before the election, Oligui created his own political group called Rally of Builders. He won the election with almost 95% of the votes. He was officially sworn in as president on May 3, 2025.
On July 5, 2025, Oligui officially started a new political party. It is called the Democratic Union of Builders (UDB).
Personal Life
Brice Oligui Nguema is a Christian. His brother-in-law, Régis Onanga Ndiaye, serves as his Minister for Foreign Affairs.
See also
In Spanish: Brice Oligui para niños
