Re-appointed premier Mba retains 12 ministers for new cabinet

AFP - Gabonese Prime Minister Paul Biyoghe Mba named on Saturday a new slimmed-down government of 30 ministers, including 12 from his previous cabinet.

The 53-year-old Mba was immediately reappointed Friday after Ali Bongo Ondimba, son of Gabon's late strong-arm leader, was sworn in as president nearly two months after his hotly disputed election victory.

The "contraction of posts is aimed primarily at efficiency," said Mba in announcing his cabinet, which shrinks from 44 ministers in his previous government, which was in office for three months.

Paul Toungui remains at the head of the foreign ministry, Jean-François Ndongou at the interior ministry, Julien Ngoghe Bekale at the mining, oil and hydrocarbons ministry and Blaise Louembe as the budget minister.

Angelique Ngoma was shifted from the family ministry to defence minister.

Most of the new ministers are little-known political figures.