Brigitte Onkanowa

Brigitte Onkanowa
Minister of National Defence
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 January 2024
PresidentBrice Oligui Nguema
Preceded byFélicité Ongouori Ngoubili
Personal details
Born
Okodja, Haut-Ogooué Province, Gabon

Brigitte Onkanowa (also spelled Onganoa) is a General in the Armed Forces of Gabon who has served as the country's National Defence Minister since January 2024.

Onkanowa was born in Okodja in Haut-Ogooué Province. In 2018, she was the first woman promoted to the rank of Brigadier General within the National Gendarmerie of Gabon.

After the August 2023 coup by the Gabonese armay deposed President Ali Bongo, she was appointed Minister Delegate to the Presidency by transitional President Brice Oligui Nguema. She was announced as Minister of National Defense on 17 January 2024 by transitional Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima. This made her the first woman to head the armed forces in a Central African country. She was reappointed in 2025 and 2026.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Mamba, Darelle (11 May 2025). "Brigitte Onkanowa: a sentinel serving Gabon". Gabonclic.info. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "Gabon's new cabinet announced, featuring historic appointment of female defence minister". Africa Briefing.
  3. ↑ Tasamba, James (10 September 2023). "Gabon's transitional government names new Cabinet". Anadolu Ajansi. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  4. ↑ Makemba, Karl (18 January 2024). "Gabon : le Gén. Oligui cède la Défense au Gén. Onkanowa et l'Intérieur à Immongault" (in French). Gabon Media Time. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Gabon : Brigitte Onkanowa, générale de brigade, portée à la Défense nationale du pays" (in French). Radio La Femme. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Gabonese president appoints new government". Xinhua. 2 January 2026. Retrieved 25 July 2026.