- President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema has appointed Séraphin Moundounga as vice president of Gabon, marking the return of the seasoned politician after seven years in exile. The appointment, announced on May 5, 2025, follows President Oligui Nguema’s inauguration and the establishment of a new government under the Fifth Republic.
Moundounga, 61, previously served as Minister of Justice and Second Vice Prime Minister under former President Ali Bongo Ondimba. He resigned in 2016, citing concerns over the integrity of the presidential election, and subsequently lived in France.
After the military coup on August 30, 2023, which ended the Bongo family’s 56-year rule, Moundounga returned to Gabon in October 2023. He was appointed president of the Transitional Economic, Social, and Environmental Council, playing a consultative role in the country’s governance.
His appointment as vice president is seen as a move toward political reconciliation and the inclusion of experienced figures in the nation’s leadership. President Oligui Nguema, who led the coup and was later elected president in April 2025 with over 94% of the vote, has emphasized the importance of unity and institutional reform in Gabon’s transition.