In a striking display of voter engagement, Gabonese citizens turned out in large numbers for the country’s presidential election on Saturday, signaling a renewed interest in shaping the nation’s future. The interior ministry reported a 70.40% turnout an increase of nearly 14 percentage points from the last contested election in August 2023, which ended in a military coup.
General Brice Oligui Nguema, who led that coup and subsequently became transitional president, emerged from the polls with a decisive mandate. Provisional results announced on Sunday showed Nguema winning 90.35% of the votes cast, effectively legitimizing his leadership 19 months after ending the Bongo family’s 56-year rule.
Nguema, running on a platform of reform under the slogan “We Build Together,” positioned himself as a break from the past. In campaign appearances, often sporting a casual baseball cap, he pledged to tackle corruption and reduce Gabon’s dependency on oil by boosting agriculture, industry, and tourism. “We must build a new Gabon one that works for everyone,” he told supporters during a rally last month.
His strongest challenger, Alain Claude Bilie By Nze, previously served as prime minister under President Ali Bongo and represented a continuity candidate from the ousted regime. Despite his political experience, he was unable to mount a significant challenge against the popular momentum behind Nguema.
With a population of about 2.5 million and abundant oil resources, Gabon faces the challenge of translating political change into tangible economic reform. Roughly one-third of the population still lives in poverty, and Nguema has acknowledged the urgency of delivering on promises of diversification and development.
