Hundreds of thousands of people gathered at a stadium in the capital, Libreville, to witness the ceremony.

Nguema, 50, the former head of the country’s republican guard unit, has pledged to diversify the central African nation’s largely oil-dependent economy, reform the education system, and reduce youth unemployment.

“Today we celebrate democratic renewal,” Nguema said during a speech at the inauguration ceremony. “I promise to serve, protect and unite all Gabonese, that is the meaning of my oath.”

He defeated seven other candidates in the April 12 election, including outgoing Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who finished a distant third with 3% of the vote. None of the other six candidates received more than 1% of the vote. Voter turnout was 70.11%. Some 920,000 voters, including more than 28,000 foreigners, were registered at over 3,000 polling stations.

Gabon has a very high unemployment rate, especially among young graduates, and the economy is heavily dependent on oil. There is also a lack of infrastructure, including roads connecting the regional provinces and basic social services such as improving the supply of clean water to the population.