Rose Christiane Raponda: The First Female Prime Minister In Gabon

Central African nation Gabon, is meagerly populated, with a populace of around 2 million and woodlands covering 85% of its domain.

Gabon has one of the most highest urbanization rates in Africa with more than four of every five Gabonese residents living in urban communities.

The capital, Libreville, and Port Gentil—the monetary capital of the nation—are home to 59% of the populace. One out of two Gabonese residents is younger than 20, with the fertility rate in metropolitan territories at four children per woman against six in rural areas, according to Demographic and Health Survey.

As at 2020, the real GDP growth was 3.7% and is expected to be 3.6% in 2021. Gabon is driven by renewed activity in the nonoil sector, which should offset a decline in the oil sector. The fiscal surplus should stabilize in 2020 (1.0% of GDP) and in 2021 (1.5%).

Every one of these statistics are connected to the current Prime Minister of the nation, Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, who is expected to keep a solid economy in the coming year.

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The 56 year old has been in the rudder of affairs of Gabon since July 2020, making her the first female Prime Minister of the country. She recently filled in as the Mayor of Libreville and later as the country’s Defense Minister from February 2019 to July 2020.

With every one of these encounters, Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda is depended upon to help in the growth of the economy. Raponda holds a degree in economics and public finance from the Gabonese Institute of Economy and Finance, and filled in as Director General of the Economy and Deputy Director General the Housing Bank of Gabon.

She also served as minister of budget and public finance from February 2012 until January 2014. Raponda was elected Mayor of the capital city Libreville on 26 January 2014, representing the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party.

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Raponda was the first woman to hold the position since 1956 and she served until 2019. She also became President of United Cities and Local Governments Africa. On 12 February 2019, she was appointed as the Defense Minister of Gabon by president Ali Bongo Ondimba after the failed coup in January 2019.

Raponda replaced Etienne Massard Kabinda Makaga, a member of the Bongo family, who had held the position since 2016. On 16 July 2020, Raponda was appointed as the Prime Minister of Gabon, after her predecessor Julien Nkoghe Bekale stepped down. She is the first woman to hold the position.

Her appointment is the fourth cabinet shuffle by Ondimba since the failed overthrow. Her appointment comes during the double health and economic emergencies because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fall in the cost of oil, one of the country’s fundamental resources.