The swearing-in ceremony took place on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Stade de l’Amitié in Libreville and drew high-level delegations from across the continent.

Among the attending heads of state were Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Mamadi Doumbouya of the Republic of Guinea, Adama Barrow of The Gambia, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, and Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea.

Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi were also present.

Brice Oligui Nguema secured his mandate in elections held on April 12, following 19 months as transitional president after seizing power in a coup that ousted Ali Bongo. Over 40,000 people attended the event.

President Oligui Nguema last visited Rwanda on August 10, 2024, to attend President Kagame’s inauguration. Earlier, in October 2023, he paid an official visit to Rwanda and held bilateral talks with Kagame.

Their discussions focused on Gabon’s transitional roadmap, regional security in Africa, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and opportunities for cooperation between Gabon and Rwanda.

Gabon is rich in oil, timber, and minerals, and shares economic ties with Rwanda, particularly through air transport. RwandAir, the national carrier, operates flights to Libreville, Gabon’s capital.

The two nations first signed cooperation agreements in 1976, which were later revised in 2010.

President Kagame has attended the inauguration of Gabon’s Brice Oligui Nguema