Brice Oligui Nguema, leader of Gabon’s transitional government and architect of the 2023 military coup, has claimed a resounding victory in the country’s presidential election, securing 90.35% of the vote, according to provisional results announced by the Ministry of the Interior on Sunday.
The election, held on April 12, marked Gabon’s first since the military ousted long-time President Ali Bongo Ondimba, ending a family dynasty that spanned more than five decades. Oligui Nguema, 50, cast his ballot at the Centre Urban Pilot School in Libreville, the nation’s capital.
His closest rival, former Prime Minister Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze, garnered just 3.02% of the vote. The six remaining candidates each received less than 1%, in an election that recorded a voter turnout of 70.4%.
Following the 2023 coup, Oligui Nguema initially pledged to restore civilian rule. However, he formally entered the presidential race last month after taking leave from his military duties, positioning himself as a civilian candidate. With this sweeping electoral mandate, he is set to begin a renewable seven-year term as president.
The election was closely watched as a pivotal moment in Gabon’s transition back to constitutional governance. Around 920,000 voters were registered, including over 28,000 from the diaspora. Despite the country’s substantial oil resources, roughly one-third of its 2.3 million citizens live in poverty.
According to the Gabonese Civil Society Organizations Observation Mission, at least 94.8% of polling stations observed operated under satisfactory conditions, while the transparency of procedures was rated satisfactory in 98.6% of cases. Oligui Nguema had representatives present in 69.6% of observed polling stations, compared to just 8.2% for Bilie By Nze.
Oligui Nguema, a former head of the presidential guard, led the coup that unseated President Bongo in August 2023, citing governance failures and electoral irregularities. His electoral victory now formalizes his grip on power as Gabon attempts to navigate its post-coup political landscape.
