Oligui Nguema reshuffles his government in Gabon: Oyima falls from grace and a balancing act ensues.

A power in search of loyalty

Libreville. President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema signed a major cabinet reshuffle at the beginning of January 2026. The symbolism is powerful. The influential Minister of Economy, Henri-Claude Oyima , former head of BGFIBank , has been dismissed . A prominent figure in finance has disappeared from the executive branch.

This is not a simple replacement. It is a profound restructuring . Oligui has reshuffled the community, family, and political cards. Key positions are being offered to loyalists, seasoned executives, and figures with a more technocratic profile.

Oyima: From Finance to Political Exile

Henri-Claude Oyima is not an ordinary minister. The long-time head of BGFI, a major pan-African bank, he had been called upon to straighten out the country's finances.
Criticized for his budgetary choices and facing political incompatibilities , his ejection resonates as a warning.

This departure also sounds like a strategic distancing of one of the most powerful economic players on the contemporary Gabonese scene.

Thierry Minko: the technocrat as guardian of finance

At the head of the new Ministry of Economy, Finance, Debt and Investments, Oligui places Thierry Minko , a specialist rather than a political heavyweight.
This choice speaks volumes: the executive branch wants to appear rational , technically proficient , and ready to reassure markets and financial institutions. But it also signals increased control , less independence, and greater alignment with the presidential political line.

A government under pressure

The reshuffle also marks the promotion of Hermann Immongault and the return of figures already known to the executive.
This reshuffling is not a revolution. It is a reaffirmation of Oligui Nguema's power .

Since assuming the presidency following the 2023 coup and the subsequent political transition, Oligui has faced criticism. His authority extends beyond the military barracks, but the opposition, civil society, and international actors are concerned about a consolidation of power and a return to centralized rule .

His government is perceived as less open, more tightly knit around his inner circle .

Beyond the names: what it implies

This reorganization has three major implications:

• Politics : Oligui tightens his grip, limits the influence of independent economic networks.

• Economic : the replacement of Oyima, a prominent figure in Gabonese finance, by a technocrat marks a more orthodox shift in the face of debt pressure and budgetary challenges.

• Social : in a country where the cost of living and citizen expectations are high, these changes could strengthen distrust of the executive branch.

Gabon: a pivotal moment

The fall of Oyima is not just a name crossed out in a decree. It symbolizes a shift in the balance of power .

In the upper echelons of Gabon, alliances are forged and broken behind the scenes. Community, familial, and political power dynamics now dictate the nature of power.

Oligui Nguema understood this well. His message is clear: power is being consolidated, without compromise.