Gabon's Gen Oligui Nguema bars foreign holidays for government officials

The interim president says he wants to "immerse" politicians in the realities of ordinary people.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessWomen at the HelmFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersNo foreign holidays for Gabon government officialsGetty ImagesCoastal Gabon is home to many beachesGabon's interim president who seized power in a coup a year ago has barred members of his transitional government from holidaying abroad.

Gen Oligui Nguema has also limited government officials to a maximum of one week of holiday leave.

These new restrictions were announced on state television, after he toured the country to listen to people's concerns.

There is speculation that Gen Nguema may be softening the ground to run for president in next year's election - the first since he seized power in the Central African state.

He overthrew his cousin Ali Bongo, who became president in 2009 following the death of his father, Omar Bongo Ondimba, who had ruled for 41 years.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly31l97x0wo

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