Gabon’s Coup Leader Secures Landslide Victory in Presidential Election

Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema has been declared the winner of Gabon's presidential election, marking the end of a 60-year dynasty. Securing more than 90% of the votes, Nguema's election raises concerns over political fairness and is viewed as a consolidation of military power in a nation where poverty persists despite its resource wealth.

Gabon’s military leader, General Brice Oligui Nguema, has emerged victorious in Saturday's presidential election, garnering more than 90% of the vote according to provisional results. His victory signals a dramatic departure from the Bongo family’s 60-year rule, which ended with the coup he led in 2023. The Interior Minister, Hermann Immongault, confirmed that Nguema received 575,222 votes, while his closest rival, Alain Claude Bilie-by-Nze, managed only about 3% of the votes cast.

Despite a high voter turnout of over 70%, critics have raised alarms regarding the electoral process, arguing that the newly established constitution and electoral codes favor Nguema, allowing him a straightforward ascent to power. Notably, several opposition figures who could have posed significant challenges were barred from competing.

In addition to consolidating power, Nguema's election grants him a seven-year mandate to address the corruption and mismanagement that marked the preceding regime. His supporters view him as a reformer—an image bolstered by his background as the popular former commander of the Republican Guard.

However, some voters, including Bilie-by-Nze, have reported irregularities in the election process, casting doubts on the fairness and integrity of the electoral outcomes. The nation remains beset by poverty, with about 35% of Gabonese citizens living on less than $2 a day, despite the country’s abundant oil and timber resources. The implications of Nguema's leadership will likely unfold against a backdrop of both hope for reform and continued skepticism about the military's hold on power.