President Ali Bongo Ondimba is back to Gabon after several months in Morocco recovering from illness.
He flew back to Libreville accompanied by his wife Sylvia, to be welcomed by Prime Minister Julien Bekale and senior members of government.
Several thousands of people also turned out at the airport to greet the president after the ruling Democratic Party announced his return and called for a warm reception.
Since he suffered stroke on October 24 while visiting Saudi Arabia, Bongo had previously only been back to Gabon for two brief visits.
His prolonged absence stoked concern about power vacuum, apparently sparking a brief attempted coup by renegade soldiers on January 7.