Gabon’s Minister of Transport, Brice Paillat, stepped down on Thursday one week after more than 20 people were killed in a ferry accident that sparked outrage across the West African country.
Paillat quit the cabinet following widespread calls for his resignation over the sinking of the Esther Miracle ferry close to the coastal village of Nyonie last Thursday, March 9.
The boat was carrying 161 passengers from Libreville to Port-Gentil, although there are unconfirmed reports more people were on board and that it was overloaded with merchandise.
The government has not responded to the allegations or communicated a cause for the incident.
Rescue teams have so far pulled 21 dead bodies from the wreckage and said on Tuesday that 31 passengers were still missing.
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