Oyem | |
|---|---|
 | |
 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
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
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
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
Within the town is a hospital, two churches, an agricultural school, a government secondary school, and a customs station.[1]
Demographics
| Year | Population[8] |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 22,404 |
| 2003 | 35,241 |
| 2013 | 60,684 |
International relations
Twin towns – sister cities
Oyem is twinned with:
Clermont-Ferrand, France[9]
Notable people
- Daniel Ona Ondo - Gabonese prime minister
- Guélor Kanga - Gabonese football player
See also
References
- 1 2 3 "Oyem". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- 1 2 "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.
- ↑ "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.