Shettima Attends Gabon President Brice Nguema’s Inauguration On Behalf Of Tinubu

Vice President Kashim Shettima has left Nigeria for Libreville, Gabon, where he will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Brice Nguema as the country’s new president.

A statement from his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, said Shettima made the trip on Saturday on behalf of President Bola Tinubu.

Nkwocha explained that Nigeria stands in support of Gabon’s peaceful political transition and remains committed to encouraging democratic rule and stability across Central Africa.

Shettima is expected to return home shortly after the ceremony.

Brice Nguema, who previously led Gabon’s presidential guard, emerged as the winner of the April presidential election, reportedly securing around 90 percent of the vote in a race that featured eight candidates.

Nguema initially came to power in August 2023 when he led a military takeover that ousted then-president Ali Bongo, ending the Bongo family’s decades-long grip on power.

The military justified the coup by pointing to deep-rooted issues in the country, including political instability, economic hardship, and weak institutions.

KanyiDaily recalls that Brice Nguema, the leader of Gabon’s military junta, was sworn in as the country’s interim president in 2023.