Gabon Votes in First Election Since 2023 Coup \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Gabon held its first election since a 2023 military coup ousted longtime leader Ali Bongo. Interim President Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema is expected to win and extend his grip on power. His main challenger, Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, promises a clean break from the past.
Quick Looks
- Polling stations closed Saturday evening across Gabon in a pivotal national vote.
- It marks the first election since a military coup ended 50 years of Bongo family rule.
- Interim President Brice Oligui Nguema, who led the 2023 coup, is widely expected to win.
- About 920,000 registered voters, including 28,000 overseas, participated.
- Oligui Nguema cast his vote in Libreville, calling the election “peaceful and transparent.”
- Ali Bongo, overthrown in 2023, remains uncharged but under scrutiny; his family faces corruption cases.
- A new constitution adopted last year limits presidency to two seven-year terms.
- Oligui’s top challenger, Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, pledges “a new political independence.”
- Opposition voices fear electoral manipulation and lack of transparency.
- Voter opinions are divided, with some praising reforms, others criticizing the military’s continuity.
Deep Look
Gabonese citizens headed to the polls Saturday in a momentous presidential election, the first since a 2023 military coup ousted the Bongo dynasty after over half a century in power. The vote is widely seen as a formality to legitimize the rule of Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, the interim president and former head of the elite Republican Guard who seized power last year.
Polls closed without major incidents by 6 p.m. local time, though authorities offered no formal confirmation. Interim results are expected overnight or Sunday, and analysts predict a decisive victory for Oligui, who is seeking a full seven-year term under Gabon’s newly reformed constitution.
A Nation in Transition, Still Rich but Unequal
Despite its vast oil reserves, about one-third of Gabon’s 2.3 million citizens live in poverty, a lingering issue from the decades-long rule of President Ali Bongo Ondimba and his father before him. This inequality, paired with widespread corruption allegations, laid the groundwork for Oligui’s coup in 2023.
Since assuming power, Oligui has attempted to position himself as a unifying reformer, promising to “build a new republic.” However, his decision to run for office—after proclaiming himself interim leader—has drawn sharp criticism. Detractors view the election as a military power grab disguised as a democratic process.
Casting His Vote—and Casting a Vision
After voting in Libreville, the capital, Oligui told reporters:
“I have a feeling of pride, I have a feeling of joy. I see enthusiasm from the Gabonese people who want to turn the page and join the new Republic.”
He described the election as “transparent” and “peaceful,” though opposition leaders disagree.
His most prominent challenger, Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, a former prime minister under Bongo, has framed his campaign around anti-corruption and independence. He called for an end to political influence from former colonial powers, including France, which still maintains over 300 troops in the country.
“This election is not fair. Everything has been done to lock down the vote,” Bilie-By-Nze told the Associated Press.
Still, he participated, casting his ballot in his hometown of Makokou, warning in a video message about the possible misuse of unused voter cards for fraud.
A New Constitution, but Old Concerns
The 2023 referendum introduced significant political changes, including:
- A seven-year presidential term, renewable once.
- The elimination of the prime minister role.
- A ban on family succession in the presidency—clearly aimed at ending dynastic rule.
While these changes were billed as reforms, critics say they consolidate power under a military-aligned presidency.
Following the coup, Ali Bongo was placed under house arrest, then released for health reasons. His wife and son remain in custody, charged with embezzling state funds. Bongo himself has not been formally charged.
A Divided Electorate
Public opinion in Gabon remains mixed. Many citizens expressed both hope and skepticism at polling stations Saturday.
Jonas Obiang, a voter in Libreville’s Damas neighborhood, said he supported Bilie-By-Nze, viewing the 2023 coup as a superficial regime change.
“Oligui Nguema rules with the same corrupt officials who plundered this country,” he said.
Antoine Nkili, an unemployed law graduate, agreed:
“They said they’d reform the institutions. They haven’t. Instead, they enriched themselves.”
Others backed Oligui, citing progress made during his short tenure.
Jean Bie, 57, who works in construction, said:
“In 19 months, General Oligui has done more than Bongo did in years. I trust he’ll continue that work.”
The Stakes Beyond Gabon
This election carries regional implications. As anti-French sentiment surges across West and Central Africa, Gabon remains one of the few former French colonies to maintain close ties with Paris. Oligui has not indicated plans to change that relationship, but his challenger, Bilie-By-Nze, says “nothing is off the table.”
Whether Oligui wins—as expected—or faces unexpected resistance, the real test will come after the ballots are counted. Can he deliver on promises of reform? Or will the election merely entrench military-backed authoritarianism under a new name?
For now, Gabon waits.
Gabon Votes in
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