General Brice Oligui Nguema, the military leader who orchestrated the 2023 coup that ended nearly six decades of Bongo family rule in Gabon, has won the presidential election held on Saturday with more than 90% of the vote, according to provisional results. Critics had earlier voiced concerns that the newly implemented constitution and electoral laws were crafted to ease Oligui Nguema’s path to power. Several prominent opposition figures, who could have mounted significant challenges, were barred from running. This landslide victory further solidified Oligui Nguema’s hold on power, nearly two years after deposing President Ali Bongo, whose family had governed Gabon since 1967. The 50-year-old leader competed against seven other candidates, including former Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie-by-Nze, a key figure in the previous administration, as well as two former members of the ruling PDG party—Stéphane Germain Iloko and Alain Simplice Boungouères.
Interior Minister Hermann Immongault announced the results stating, “Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema is elected president by absolute majority of the votes cast, with 575,222 votes.” His closest rival, Bilie-by-Nze, garnered just over 3%.
Voter turnout exceeded 70%, with officials and some observers praising the election as transparent and peaceful. Nonetheless, there were reports of irregularities, including delays at some polling stations and issues with voters locating their assigned polling places.
Bilie-by-Nze raised concerns over allegations that unmarked ballots were not securely stored at certain locations, expressing fears that they could have been misused to rig the vote.
With his election, Oligui Nguema secured a seven-year term, along with the authority and resources to address corruption and mismanagement that plagued the Bongo era.
A former commander of Gabon’s elite Republican Guard, Oligui Nguema has gained widespread popularity for ending the long-standing dynastic rule and pledging to restore integrity and governance.
Gabon, a small central African nation rich in oil and timber, is home to around 2.5 million people. Despite its natural wealth, roughly 35% of the population lives below the poverty line, surviving on less than $2 a day.
