Gabon will hold a pivotal presidential election this Saturday, the first since a military coup in 2023 ended more than half a century of dynastic rule by the Bongo family.
Interim president General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema—who led the coup and was later appointed transitional leader—has declared his candidacy in a contest widely expected to secure his hold on power.
The vote comes after a turbulent political reset, during which former president Ali Bongo Ondimba was ousted and placed under house arrest, while members of his family were charged with corruption.
The run-up to the election has been shaped by significant constitutional and legal reforms, including a controversial electoral code allowing military personnel to stand as candidates—paving the way for Oligui Nguema’s bid. His main challenger is Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, a former prime minister under Bongo, who has vowed to break with the past and reset Gabon’s relationship with France, the country’s former colonial power. Bilie-By-Nze has sharply criticized the electoral process, alleging it has been skewed in favor of the ruling candidate, with state resources disproportionately used in Oligui Nguema’s campaign and opposition parties denied funding.
Despite Gabon’s oil wealth—its 2022 oil exports generated $6 billion—much of the population remains impoverished, with youth unemployment nearing 40% and over a third of citizens living below the poverty line. Political analysts suggest that while Bilie-By-Nze seeks to position himself as an alternative to both the military and the former regime, public perception of his ties to the Bongo era may limit his appeal.
Meanwhile, Oligui Nguema, though a cousin of the ousted president, has positioned himself as a reformer promising to return power to civilians, though critics question the fairness of the upcoming vote.