Gabon’s military leader, General Brice Oligui Nguema, has secured a landslide victory in the country’s first presidential election since the 2023 coup that ended the Bongo family’s 56-year rule. Provisional results show Nguema won 90.35% of the vote, with a 70.4% turnout, marking a significant increase from the 56.65% participation in the disputed 2023 poll.
His nearest competitor, the former Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie By-Nze, garnered merely 3.02% of the votes. This result further solidifies Nguema’s authority almost two years subsequent to his overthrow of President Ali Bongo, whose family has governed Gabon since the year 1967.
Nguema, a cousin of Ali Bongo, led the August 2023 coup amid widespread allegations of electoral fraud during Bongo’s bid for a third term. The coup dissolved Gabon’s institutions and initiated an 18-month transition, culminating in Saturday’s vote.
A November 2024 constitutional referendum—approved by 91% of voters—paved the way for the election by abolishing the prime minister’s role, extending presidential terms to seven years, and permitting military officials to run for office. Critics argue these reforms centralized power and tailored the electoral framework to favor Nguema, who ran as an independent.
Nguema campaigned on promises to combat corruption, diversify Gabon’s oil-dependent economy, and restore public services. His interim administration had already nationalized foreign oil assets, accelerated infrastructure projects, and cleared pension arrears. However, challenges persist: one-third of Gabon’s 2.3 million people live in poverty despite its resource wealth.
Regionally, the election tests the African Union’s (AU) anti-coup norms. Article 25(4) of the African Charter on Democracy prohibits coup leaders from contesting post-transition elections, but the AU’s muted response to Nguema’s candidacy—mirroring its handling of Chad’s 2024 vote—signals a weakening commitment to enforcing this rule. Analysts warn this could embolden other juntas in suspended AU states like Mali and Burkina Faso to follow suit.
While the government and some observers described the election as peaceful and transparent, Bilie By-Nze and civil society groups reported irregularities, including unsecured ballots and voter registration issues. Opposition figures barred from running condemned the process as skewed.
Internationally, France—Gabon’s former colonial power—maintained cordial ties with Nguema, agreeing to convert its military base into a joint training facility. The U.S. and AU have yet to formally acknowledge the results, though the latter is expected to lift Gabon’s suspension despite concerns over democratic backsliding.
Nguema now faces heightened expectations to deliver economic reforms and address inequality. His consolidation of power under the new constitution leaves little room for shared governance, placing the onus squarely on his administration. As Gabon navigates this transition, its trajectory will resonate across Africa, where youth-driven demands for accountability and reform continue to reshape political landscapes.
The election underscores a broader continental tension between authoritarian consolidation and democratic renewal—a dynamic poised to dominate Africa’s 2025 electoral cycle, including upcoming votes in Cameroon and Guinea.
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