Félicité Ongouori Ngoubili

Félicité Ongouori Ngoubili (born 1 September 1959) is a Gabonese politician and diplomat. She served as Gabon's Minister of National Defence under President Ali Bongo until he was overthrown by Brice Oligui Nguema in the coup d'état of 30 August 2023. She is the third woman to hold this position.

Biography

Academic background Félicité Ongouori Ngoubili was born in the village of Obia in the Haut-Ogooué province of Gabon. After obtaining her baccalaureate, she studied history at Omar Bongo University between 1979 and 1984. There she obtained a bachelor's degree and then a master's degree in history. Ongouori Ngoubili then went to France in 1985, where she obtained a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DEA) in the History of International Relations from the Pierre Renouvin Institute in Paris.

Political career Upon returning to Gabon, Ongouori Ngoubili became a Foreign Affairs Advisor in 1986. The following year, in 1987, she became Ambassador-at-Large for the Europe Zone. Between 1990 and 2002, she served as Deputy Secretary-General and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Gabon to Ghana, Benin and Niger.

From 2002 to 2008, she was Deputy Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic in charge of Administrative Affairs (2002-2008) under the presidency of Omar Bongo.

In June 2008, she was promoted to High Representative of Gabon to France. She has also served as Gabon's Ambassador to Monaco, Switzerland and Portugal.