The former general led a coup in the Bongo family's 55-year rule, swept the election last month after leading the transitional government.

Brice Oligui Nguema, who led the Gabon coup, ended decades of Bongo family rule and swept the election with nearly 95% of the vote, has been sworn in as president of the country.

The general and former military leader overthrew Ali Bongo in August 2023 and formally seized the presidential initiation rope on Saturday after leading a 19-month transitional government.

The inauguration at Angondje Stadium in the north of capital Libreville Drew 40,000 Supporters and was mentioned by more than 20 African heads of state, including the Gambia's Adama Barrow, Senegal's Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Djibouti's ismail omar Guelleh, and Teodoro OBiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, The AFP News Agency report. President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Felix Tshisekedi al-So, attended the meeting.

As thousands of venues gathered together, the streets of Libreville were stranded, with art performances and military parades along the Libreville waterfront that night, state media reported.

"All citizens of Libreville are asked to extend a warm welcome to these outstanding guests," the Ministry of Home Affairs and Security said in a statement.

Oligui, 50, took power after abolishing Ali Bongo, and his family ruled Gabon for 55 years. The Bongo era was characterized by a tightly controlled sponsorship system that enriched the elite while excluding most citizens from the oil-fuel boom in Gabon.

Oligui faces serious challenges in leading an oil-rich country that needs to transform vital infrastructure and diversify its economy, but how big.

Oligui, once head of elite Republican defenders, promised to go against past dynasty politics.

In his first international news interview since the election, Oligui told Al Jazeera that he was determined to “restore the dignity of the Gabonese people”.

"I'm going to give back to what they gave me today. And everything people stole from people, I want to come back to them," he said.

Despite large reserves of oil, gold and manganese and their role as a key part of the Congo Basin rainforest, the country is still struggling with widespread poverty.

According to the World Bank's 2024 data (PDF), about 40% of young people are unemployed and about one-third of the total population lives below the poverty line.

During the transition period, Oligui tried to portray himself as a reformer and “builder” and launched a high-profile construction project while promising to address local corruption. His campaign slogan, “We Build Together”, was highlighted in pre-election rallies.

However, Oligui's own record was under scrutiny. A 2020 survey of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project showed that he allegedly owned property in the U.S. worth more than $1 million and had previously helped expand overseas businesses in Bongos.

When questioning these relationships, Oligui says they are "private affairs."

However, early signs from the latest World Bank report suggest Gabon's economy grew 2.9% in 2024, due to increased production of oil, wood and manganese and increased spending on public infrastructure.

When Oligui begins its official term, investors and international observers are watching closely to see if Gabon and its 2.2 million population can turn the pages under decades of dynasty rule.