Rose Francine Rogombé facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rose Francine Rogombé
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| President of Gabon Acting |
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| In office 10 June 2009 – 16 October 2009 |
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| Prime Minister | Jean Eyeghé Ndong Paul Biyoghé Mba |
| Preceded by | Didjob Divungi Di Ndinge (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Ali Bongo Ondimba |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Rose Francine Etomba
20 September 1942 Lambaréné, French Equatorial Africa (now Gabon) |
| Died | 10 April 2015 (aged 72) Paris, France |
| Political party | PDG |
Rose Francine Rogombé (born Etomba) (September 20, 1942 – April 10, 2015) was an important politician from Gabon, a country in Africa. She served as the temporary, or Acting, President from June to October 2009. This happened after the long-time President, Omar Bongo, passed away.
Rose Francine Rogombé became president because she was the President of the Senate. The Senate is like a big council that helps make laws. She was chosen for this role in February 2009. She was also a lawyer and a member of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG). Rogombé was special because she was the first woman to lead Gabon. After her time as acting president, she went back to being the President of the Senate.
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Her Early Life and Career
Rose Francine Etomba was born in 1942 in Lambaréné, which was then called French Equatorial Africa but is now Gabon. She belonged to the Galwa group. After studying in France, she became a magistrate in Gabon. A magistrate is like a judge who handles less serious cases.
In the 1980s, she also worked in the government. She was the Secretary of State for the Advancement of Women and Human Rights. This role meant she helped improve the lives of women and protect human rights. In the early 1990s, when Gabon started having many political parties, she left politics to focus on her law career. She later became the Vice-President of a special court for serious crimes. In 2007, she earned a degree in theology, which is the study of religious beliefs.
Becoming a Leader in the Senate
In April 2008, Rose Francine Rogombé was chosen as a local council member in Lambaréné. Then, in January 2009, she was elected as a Senator for Lambaréné. Senators are elected to represent their regions in the Senate.
On February 16, 2009, she was elected as the President of the Senate. Most of the Senators, 90 out of 99, supported her. Rogombé was sometimes called the "iron lady." She wasn't very well known before President Bongo chose her to lead the Senate. Many people in her political party were surprised by his choice. However, she knew a lot about how politics worked in Gabon. She was close to President Bongo and was a friend of the family of Georges Rawiri, who was also a powerful politician and had been President of the Senate before he passed away.
Leading Gabon as Acting President
As the President of the Senate, Rogombé was the person chosen by Gabon's rules to take over as President of the country if the position became empty. If this happened, she would only serve as a temporary, or interim, president until a new election could be held. She would not be allowed to run in that election herself.
When President Omar Bongo died on June 8, 2009, the Constitutional Court officially named Rogombé as the interim President on June 9. Her swearing-in ceremony was set for the next day. The Constitutional Court said that as a temporary president, Rogombé would have limited powers. For example, she could not close down the National Assembly (another part of the government) or ask the public to vote on a special issue. The Gabonese constitution said a new presidential election had to happen within 30 to 45 days. However, it was expected to be delayed to update the list of people who could vote.
Rogombé took her oath of office on June 10, 2009. Many important people were there, including members of the government, the Senate, and foreign diplomats. She promised "to devote all my strength to the good of the Gabonese people, with the aim of promoting its well-being and protecting it from all harm, to respect and defend the constitution and a state of law, and conscientiously to carry out my duties and to be fair before everyone."
After Rogombé became President, Léonard Andjembé, who was the First Vice-President of the Senate, took over her old job as President of the Senate temporarily.
In the presidential election held on August 30, 2009, Ali Bongo, the candidate from Rogombé's party, won. Bongo became President on October 16, 2009. Rogombé then returned to her role as President of the Senate on October 20, taking over from Andjembé. Even though the constitution didn't specifically say she could return to her old job, her doing so set an example for the future. To thank her for leading Gabon during the election, the oldest Senator, Marcel Sandoungou, gave her a medal of honor. She said that the Senate was ready to work with President Bongo as he started his planned changes for the country.
After Her Time as President
On January 30, 2010, Rogombé gave out 23,000 toys to children in Lambaréné. This was a late celebration of Christmas.
After the Senate election in December 2014, Lucie Milebou Aubusson was chosen to replace Rogombé as President of the Senate on February 27, 2015.
Rose Francine Rogombé passed away on April 10, 2015, at a hospital in Paris, France. She had gone there for medical treatment a few days earlier.
See also
In Spanish: Rose Francine Rogombé para niños
