Gabon’s President Ali Bongo Odimba reorganized the Gabonese government on March 8, 2020. Some ministers have kept their posts, others have been swapped or have left the government. The government now has 38 members, including 13 women, some of whom hold key ministries such as justice, defense, the economy and the ministry responsible for foreign affairs. The government is also headed by a female Prime Minister, since July 2020.
Gabonese women occupy a central place in the country’s institutions and have played a key role in Gabon’s major historical moments. For example, Rose Francine Rogombé was interim president of Gabon from June 10, 2009 to October 16, 2009, after the death of former president Omar Bongo Odimba. Lucie Milebou-Aubusson, 65, is currently president of the Gabonese Senate, while Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo, 66, nicknamed “3M,” is president of Gabon’s Constitutional Court, the country’s highest court, since the institution was created in 1991.
Below is an overview of the 13 women ministers in the Gabonese government.
Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, Prime Minister
Gabon’s Prime Minister since July 16, 2020, Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda is the first woman to head a government in Gabon. Prior to her appointment as head of government, she was Minister of National Defense and Homeland Security, appointed in January 2019. In 2014, Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda had become the first woman elected mayor of Libreville. A specialist in public finance, she holds a degree in economics, public finance option from the Gabonese Institute of Economics and Finance.
Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda was Director General of the Economy and Deputy Director General of the Banque de l’Habitat du Gabon. In February 2012, she was appointed Minister of Budget, Public Accounts and Civil Service in the government led by former Gabonese Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima. In the 2014 municipal elections, she was a councilor in the third district of Libreville. On February 7, 2014, she became mayor of Libreville, the Gabonese capital, for the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG).
Denise Memak’ne Edzidzie, wife Taty, Minister of State, Minister of Relations with Constitutional Institutions and Independent Administrative Authorities
A member of various governments in Gabon since 2006, Denise Memak’ne Edzidzie has headed several ministries.
Madeleine Berre, Minister of Employment, Public Service and Labor
Madeleine Berre retains her position as Minister of Employment, Public Service and Labor, which she has held since November 2020. Prior to that, she was, since September 2016, Minister of Private Investment Promotion, Trade, Tourism and Industry.
In 2013, Madeleine Berre was the first woman elected to head the Gabonese employers’ confederation (CPG), an organization that brings together about 350 companies that generate nearly 80% of the national GDP and employ 90% of private sector employees. Born in 1966, married and mother of three children, Madeleine Berre holds a postgraduate degree in corporate law and taxation from the University of Pantheon-Assas in Paris, obtained in 1993. She began her career with the law firm Fidafrica, where she worked for nearly ten years. In 2002, when Deloitte set up a subsidiary in Gabon, Madeleine Berre was recruited and participated in the founding of the subsidiary, before becoming a partner and thus taking part in the group’s strategy. In 2011, Madeleine Berre was appointed Managing Director of Deloitte Legal and Tax. In the meantime, since 2009, she has been working within the Gabonese employers’ confederation (CPG) as President of the legal and tax commission. Her expertise as a lawyer, particularly in business and labor law, and her knowledge of the files since her involvement in the CPG’s legal and tax commission, made her the best candidate to be elected, in 2013, President of the CPG, the first woman in this position in Gabon, elected with 33 votes out of 40. In September 2016, after the re-election of Ali Bongo Odimba, Madeleine Berre was appointed Minister of Private Investment Promotion, Trade, Tourism and Industry.
Félicité Ongouori-Ngoubili, Minister of National Defense
After Angélique Ngoma (2009-2011) and Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda (2019-2020), Félicité Ongouori Ngoubili is the third woman to hold the post of Minister of National Defense in Gabon.
Félicité Ongouori Ngoubili, 62, is a career diplomat.
Former deputy director of the cabinet of President Ali Bongo Ondimba, Félicité Ongouori Ngoubili has been ambassador of Gabon in France, Belgium, Monaco, Switzerland and the European Union.
Félicité Ongouori-Ngoubili holds a postgraduate degree in the history of international relations from the Pierre Renouvain Institute of Paris I. From 1987 to 1990, she was ambassador, director of Europe, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Gabon, then ambassador and deputy secretary general from 1990 to 2002.
From 1994 to 2002, she served as Ambassador Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Gabon to the Republics of Benin, Ghana and Niger, with residence in Libreville. From 2002 to June 2008, she served as Deputy Director of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Gabon.
Félicité Ongouori Ngoubili is currently a member of parliament for the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), for the department of Lekoni-Lekori.
She is a medal of honor of the National Gendarmerie; was decorated with the National Order of the Equatorial Star; is an Officer of the Gabonese National Order of Merit and also an Officer of the French National Order of Merit.
Erlyne Antonella Ndembet, wife of Damas, Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals, in charge of human rights and gender equality.
Erlyne Antonella Ndembet is Minister of Justice since December 2, 2019.
Born in Nantes, France, in 1971, Erlyne Antonella Ndembet joined the judiciary in 2004, after completing her judicial studies cycle A at the National School of Magistrates in Libreville. She also holds a DEUG from the University of Caen, France, as well as a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in private law, with a specialization in judicial careers and criminal sciences.
Erlyne Antonella Ndembet was also President of the First Indictment Chamber of the Court of Appeal of Libreville, before joining the government. Prior to that, she was an investigating judge and first investigating judge at the Court of First Instance of Libreville as well as an advisor to the Court of Appeal.
Nicole Jeanine Lydie Roboty Mbou, Minister of Economy and Recovery
Jeanine Roboty Mbou was appointed Minister of Economy and Recovery on December 9, 2020, the first woman to hold this position in Gabon. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Paris Pantheon-Sorbonne and the Center for Financial, Economic and Banking Studies (CEFEB). She was appointed Deputy Minister of Economy on July 17, 2020, a ministry in which she has spent most of her career. Between 2013 and 2018, she was director of negotiations and market monitoring at the General Directorate of Debt.
Camelia Ntoutoume-Leclercq, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, Technology Transfer, Culture and the Arts
Camelia Ntoutoume-Leclercq is the new Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, Technology Transfer, Culture and the Arts
Previously, since July 2020, she was Minister Delegate to the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, Technology Transfer, National Education and Civic Training. Prior to that, she served for two years as Senior Advisor to the Presidency of the Republic of Gabon.
Before joining the Presidency of Gabon, Camelia Ntoutoume-Leclercq worked at the Prime Minister’s Office as head of the communication and digital economy department in charge of the women’s decade and the coordination of government communication, after having been an advisor in charge of the government information department.
Camelia Ntoutoume-Leclercq is a six-time graduate of the National School of Administration in France; of the School of Advanced Studies in Information and Communication Sciences, better known as “Celsa” at the Sorbonne; of the Institute of Political Studies in Aix-en-Provence, ESARC- CEFIRE, in various disciplines: public administration, political science, communication, marketing and management
Edith Ekiri Mounombi, wife Oyouomi, Minister of Budget and Public Accounts
Edith Ekiri Mounombi is the new Minister of Budget and Public Accounts of Gabon. Prior to her appointment, she was Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Secretary General of the Budget and Public Accounts.
Yolande Nyonda, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Yolande Nyonda remains Minister Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Previously, she was Minister Delegate for National Education. Prior to this, she was Secretary General of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Equipment and Public Works. She was also, for 8 years, Secretary General of the Ministry of Budget and Public Accounts.
Aubierge Sylvine Ngoma, Minister Delegate to the Minister of National Education, in charge of civic training
Aubierge Sylvine Ngoma has changed portfolios by becoming Minister Delegate to the Minister of National Education, in charge of civic training. Previously, she was Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Employment, Public Service, Labor and Vocational Training.
Huguette Abodo Yombiyeni, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Digital Economy
Huguette Abodo Yombiyeni is the new Minister Delegate to the Minister of Digital Economy. She was previously the National Secretary in charge of public life moralization and political animation of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG).
Justine Lembimbi, wife of MIHINDOU, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Health and Social Affairs (Information not available)
Sidonie Moussirou, Minister Delegate to the Minister of State, Minister of Energy and Hydraulic Resources (Information not available)
