Gabon to Hold First Presidential Election Since 2023 Coup
Voters choose their leader in the aftermath of the Bongo family’s 56-year rule
- Gabon holds its first presidential election since the 2023 coup that ended the Bongo family’s 56-year rule
- General Nguema, the coup leader, faces Alain Claude Bilie By Nze
- Gabonese citizens seek more transparency
Gabon is set to hold a presidential election this Saturday, marking a historic vote following the military coup in 2023 that ended the Bongo family’s 56-year rule.
This election is viewed as a critical move for the junta to cement its hold on power and signal a return to constitutional order.
General Brice Oligui Nguema, who led the coup last August, is the leading candidate. Despite initially promising to restore civilian rule, Nguema declared himself transitional president and formally entered the race last month.
His primary challenger is Alain Claude Bilie By Nze, a former prime minister under ousted President Ali Bongo. Nze now leads the political movement “Together for Gabon,” seeking to distance himself from the regime he once served.
Nguema, benefiting from the incumbency, enjoys broad popularity for ousting the Bongo regime. He has also maintained loyalists in key political institutions, including the senate, national assembly, and constitutional court.
He presents himself as a leader dedicated to rebuilding Gabon, pledging to tackle long-standing inequalities and help the nation “rise from the ashes.”
The election is seen as a potential turning point for many Gabonese, who have long suffered from wealth inequality under the Bongo dynasty. Despite Gabon’s oil wealth, the majority of the population lived in poverty, leading to violent protests following Ali Bongo’s controversial re-election in 2016. His 2023 victory, which was widely regarded as fraudulent, prompted Nguema’s military takeover.
Since the coup, Gabon’s economy has shown modest growth, with a 2.9% increase in 2024 driven by investments in infrastructure and rising production of oil, manganese, and timber. However, the country remains highly reliant on oil, and Nguema, like his predecessor, has promised to diversify the economy through agriculture, industry, and tourism.
Many Gabonese citizens are hopeful this election will bring meaningful change, beyond just a new leader. Civil society activist Pépecy Ogouliguendé expressed the desire for more transparency and improved healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
Polling stations will open at 8 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) and close at 6 p.m., with results expected by the evening.
