A seven-year presidential mandate has been awarded to General Brice Oligui Nguema following a decisive electoral victory in Gabon, according to provisional results released by the Interior ministry on April 13. Over 90% of the vote was secured by the military leader, who had seized power in 2023 through a coup that ended the nearly six-decade rule of the Bongo family. His triumph was facilitated by new constitutional reforms and an electoral code, both of which were criticised for shaping a political environment favourable to the former general.
The result has been viewed by supporters as an endorsement of change, while others have expressed concerns about fairness and transparency. Several prominent opposition figures were excluded from the ballot, and irregularities in voting procedures were reported. Claims of unmarked ballot papers being mishandled and logistical delays at polling stations were voiced by rival candidate and former Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie-by-Nze, who received just over 3% of the vote. Despite these issues, the election has been described by officials as having been conducted peacefully and with high voter turnout.
With power now officially consolidated, President Oligui Nguema is expected to focus his administration on tackling the entrenched corruption and mismanagement associated with the previous regime. The promise of reform has resonated with a population weary of dynastic leadership, even as doubts linger about the democratic integrity of the process. Gabon, a resource-rich nation of 2.5 million people, continues to struggle with economic inequality, with over a third of its citizens living in poverty despite abundant oil and timber reserves.