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From Our Own Correspondent: Gabon: meet the new boss

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General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema is inaugurated as Gabon's interim President, in Libreville on 04 September 2023

16/09/2023 GMT

Gabon: meet the new boss

BBC World Service - From Our Own Correspondent, Gabon: meet the new boss

The Bongo family's rule is over in Gabon; plus stories from Morocco, Norway and Paraguay

The end of the Bongo family's dynastic rule  in Gabon; surviving Morocco's earthquake;  the fish crossing Norway's border with Russia; defending the Guarani language in Paraguay

Pascale Harter introduces insight, wit and analysis from BBC correspondents, journalists and writers around the world.

Members of the Bongo family have occupied Gabon's presidency for more than 50 years - but their rule is now over following an army takeover at the end of August. Catherine Norris Trent describes the new mood in Libreville as the country meets its new rulers.

From the high Atlas mountains, James Copnall reports from Azmizmiz - one of many communities left shattered by the recent devastating earthquake in Morocco.

You might expect some human tensions along Norway's frontier with Russia, inside the Arctic Circle: this is a boundary where a NATO member state directly abuts a member of the Russian Federation. But John Murphy recently found a more unexpected source of contention - the rapid breeding of invasive, Pacific salmon - which Norway argues are edging out the region's native Atlantic salmon species.

And in Paraguay, Grace Livingstone talks to some of the most passionate defenders and promoters of the Guarani language. Spoken by over 70% of the population - even including some people who have no Guarani heritage - its story of survival and endurance is almost unique among indigenous languages worldwide.

Producer: Polly Hope
Editor: Bridget Harney


(Image: General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema salutes as he is inaugurated as Gabon's interim President, in Libreville on 04 September 2023. Credit: AFP via Getty Images)

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