Ali Bongo Ondimba

Although we live in a safe and stable country, Central Africa as a region has been held back by seemingly perpetual conflict - over power, resources, and who controls them.

We are fighting corruption and all illegal activities and building a culture of transparency and ethical governance.

There is nothing that you can do without working.

I developed the armed forces, especially in a way that improved living and working conditions. My record is there.

Talking about peace might not be exciting... some say you don't eat peace, but without peace, you don't eat at all.

I want to make sure that I fulfill the aspirations of the Gabonese people: to have access to a better life, job opportunities, and importantly, for the Gabonese people themselves to take into their own hands the development of their own country.

No Gabonese must be left by the side of the road.

The international community doesn't cast a vote here. Gabonese people do, so I am accountable to them. They are the ones to give me my job or take it away. So this is what is really important to me.

I've decided with the full agreement of my wife Sylvia Bongo Ondimba and my children that my share of the inheritance will be shared with all Gabonese youth because in my eyes, we are all heirs of Omar Bongo Ondimba.

Building a 'Green Gabon' has always been a central pillar of my government, and in 2014, I introduced a new legal framework that puts environmental protection and sustainable development firmly at the heart of our future economic growth.

Climate change is a security threat that Africans have had to deal with all of our lives.

We have to diversify our economy. We have to create jobs. We have to focus on education, more training programmes.