Oyem

Coordinates: 1°36′N 11°34′E / 1.600°N 11.567°E / 1.600; 11.567
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Oyem
Coat of arms of Oyem
Oyem is located in Gabon
Oyem
Oyem
Location in Gabon
Coordinates: 1°36′N 11°34′E / 1.600°N 11.567°E / 1.600; 11.567
Country Gabon
ProvinceWoleu-Ntem Province
DepartmentWoleu Department
Elevation
900 m (3,000 ft)
Population
 (2013 census)
 • Total60,685

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:

Notable people[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Oyem". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
  2. ^ a b "Typhoid fever breaks out in northern Gabon". Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. 2005-01-07.
  3. ^ "Gabon: Tourism and Investment Guide to Gabon". Countries of the World. 1991-01-01. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Gabonese town slays 50 stray dogs". Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. 2004-03-17.
  6. ^ "Privatised water company runs into supply problems". IRIN. 2005-01-24. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
  7. ^ "A SYNOPSIS OF THE JEWS OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA". Sub-Saharan African Synagogues. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  8. ^ "Oyem". World Gazetteer. Retrieved 2008-08-13.[dead link]
  9. ^ "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.