Oyem
Oyem | |
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 | |
 Coat of arms | |
  Oyem Location in Gabon | |
| Coordinates: 1°36′N 11°34′E / 1.600°N 11.567°E | |
| Country |  Gabon |
| Province | Woleu-Ntem Province |
| Department | Woleu Department |
| Elevation | 900 m (3,000 ft) |
| Population (2013 census) | |
| • Total | 60,685 |
Oyem is the capital of Woleu-Ntem province in northern Gabon, lying on the N2 road and the River Ntem.
Geography
[edit]The town lies on a plateau at an elevation of about 3,000 feet (910 m). It is the administrative and transport center for the surrounding agricultural area.[1] Oyem is located 411 kilometers away from the national capital, Libreville.[2]
History
[edit]Oyem is named after a large tree that grows around the town.[3] In the 1990s, there were several female Peace Corps officers raped and murdered in Gabon, stirring controversy over the safety of its locations.[4]
The town was sieged by rabid dogs in March 2004, who killed three of five residents infected. The town council was forced to shoot 50 strays.[5]
In October 2004, Oyem was affected by water and power cuts. In December of that year, it was severely affected by a rare typhoid fever outbreak which spread across northern Gabon.[2] About 50 cases were reported in Oyem.[6]
A small Jewish community composed of former Christians has developed in Oyem. The community practices Jewish customs, but does not yet have a synagogue.[7]
Economy
[edit]Cocoa and coffee are the most important cash crops in Oyem and are trucked to the Cameroon ports of Kribi and Douala for export. Rubber and potatoes are also farmed.[1] The town has an airport, Oyem Airport.
Facilities
[edit]Within the town is a hospital, two churches, an agricultural school, a government secondary school, and a customs station.[1]
Demographics
[edit]| Year | Population[8] |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 22,404 |
| 2003 | 35,241 |
| 2013 | 60,684 |
International relations
[edit]Twin towns – sister cities
[edit]Oyem is twinned with:
Clermont-Ferrand, France[9]
Notable people
[edit]- Daniel Ona Ondo - Gabonese prime minister
- Guélor Kanga - Gabonese football player
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Oyem". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ a b "Typhoid fever breaks out in northern Gabon". Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. 2005-01-07.
- ^ "Gabon: Tourism and Investment Guide to Gabon". Countries of the World. 1991-01-01. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ Hopgood, Mei-Ling (2003-10-30). "Female Volunteers Warned Peace Corps about Danger in Gabon". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on 2010-02-23. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ "Gabonese town slays 50 stray dogs". Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. 2004-03-17.
- ^ "Privatised water company runs into supply problems". IRIN. 2005-01-24. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ "A SYNOPSIS OF THE JEWS OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA". Sub-Saharan African Synagogues. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
- ^ "Oyem". World Gazetteer. Retrieved 2008-08-13.[dead link]
- ^ "National Commission for Decentralised cooperation". Délégation pour l’Action Extérieure des Collectivités Territoriales (Ministère des Affaires étrangères) (in French). Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-12-26.
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