Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda (born 30 June 1963^[1][2][3]) is a Gabonese politician who served as the vice president of Gabon from January to August 2023, making her the country's first female vice president.^[4][5][6] She previously served as Prime Minister of Gabon from July 2020 to January 2023, she was also the country's first female prime minister.^[7] She also served as the mayor of Libreville and later as the country's defense minister from February 2019 to July 2020.

Raponda was born on 30 June 1963 in Franceville.^[8] Raponda is a member of the Mpongwe people.^[9] Raponda received a degree in economics and public finance from the Gabonese Institute of Economy and Finance.^[10]

Raponda worked as Director General of the Economy and Deputy Director General the Housing Bank of Gabon.^[10] She served as minister of budget and public finance from February 2012 until January 2014.^[10][11] Raponda was elected mayor of the capital city Libreville on 26 January 2014, representing the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party.^[9] She was the first woman to hold the position since 1956 and she served until 2019.^[12][13] She also became president of United Cities and Local Governments Africa.^[14]

On 12 February 2019, Raponda was appointed as the Defense Minister of Gabon by president Ali Bongo Ondimba after the failed coup in January 2019.^[13][15][16] Raponda replaced Etienne Massard Kabinda Makaga, a member of the Bongo family, who had held the position since 2016.^[17] On 16 July 2020, Raponda was appointed as the Prime Minister of Gabon, after her predecessor Julien Nkoghe Bekale stepped down.^[12] She is the first woman to hold the position. Her appointment was the fourth cabinet shuffle by Ondimba since the failed coup^[18] and occurred amid the dual health and economic crises due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the fall in the price of oil, one of the country's main resources.^[19]

On 30 August 2023 another coup succeeded, and Raponda was removed from power.