For the first time in over half a century, the people of Gabon are voting for a president who does not belong to the powerful Bongo family. The vote represents a seismic shift in the Central African nation’s political landscape following the military coup of August 2023.
Polls opened at 7am local time across Gabon’s nine provinces and in diaspora polling stations worldwide. Nearly one million people are registered to vote in an election being closely watched for signs of democratic progress—or further entrenchment of military rule.
At the centre of the ballot is coup leader and transitional president General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who seized power 19 months ago from his cousin, President Ali Bongo Ondimba. In a move that critics say was engineered to smooth his path to power, Nguema introduced a new constitution last year that allows transitional leaders to run for office—a clause previously disallowed.
“A New Way of Doing Things”
Campaigning under the slogan of national renewal, Oligui Nguema has styled himself as a man of action. His posters dominate Libreville’s streets, far outnumbering those of his seven rivals. One supporter, taxi driver Landry Obame-Mezui, summed up the sentiment plastered across his cab: “I will vote for the builder Oligui Nguema.” He added, “He came in with a new way of doing things – action before speeches.”
Oligui’s supporters point to newly paved roads, distributed taxis for employment, and a public “Inclusive National Dialogue” as signs of his commitment to reform. Yet many remain skeptical.
Critics Say the System Is Rigged
Opponents accuse Nguema of manipulating the political transition to secure power. A reformed electoral code now gives the Ministry of Interior control over the vote—raising alarms about impartiality. Furthermore, age restrictions have disqualified popular opposition figures like Albert Ondo Ossa.
Analyst Hany Wahila of the U.S.-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies told Al Jazeera, “Those who’ve criticised the military regime in Gabon have been the target of intimidation. What we’re seeing resembles more a continuation of the existing unequal process rather than progress.”
A Field of Challengers
Despite the shadow cast by the junta, several candidates are vying for office. Eight candidates are in the race to lead the country for the next seven years. They include Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, Zenaba Gninga Chaning, Stéphane Germain Iloko, Alain Simplice Boungoueres, Axel Stophène Ibinga Ibinga, Joseph Lapensée Essingone, and Thierry Yvon Michel Ngoma.
The most prominent is Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, a former prime minister under Ali Bongo. Though he portrays himself as a break from the past, his ties to the Bongo administration are proving hard to shake.
“Go back to the barracks,” Bilie-by-Nze jabbed at Oligui Nguema during a campaign stop. He argues that he, not the general, represents the real change Gabon needs.
Also in the race are former PDG party figures Stéphane Germain Iloko and Alain Simplice Boungouères. Iloko, a flamboyant doctor-turned-politician, claims to speak “for the people oppressed for 56 years.” He has been particularly critical of the electoral process and the concentration of power under the new constitution.
Gninga Chaning Zenaba, the sole female candidate, is running a low-profile campaign, with little visibility in the capital.
Voters Seek Jobs, Justice, and Opportunity
What unites many Gabonese voters is not political ideology but a deep yearning for better governance.
“Our expectation is to have a new Gabon that is well-governed and well-managed, where there is social justice, equity and equal chances,” said Noel Kounta, a registered voter in Libreville.
For 30-year-old pharmacist Shonnys Akoulatele, the stakes are personal: “I would like the [next] president to focus more on jobs. The unemployment rate is so high… they should at least show some compassion.”
Gabon, rich in oil, timber, and biodiversity, has long failed to convert its natural wealth into broad-based prosperity. Nearly 35% of its 2.2 million citizens still live on less than $2 a day.
From Dynasty to Democracy?
The Bongo family’s reign began in 1967 with President Omar Bongo and continued through his son Ali Bongo until the 2023 coup. Despite the end of the dynasty, many worry about whether genuine democracy will take root.
Douglas Yates, a political analyst at the American Graduate School in Paris, is cautiously optimistic: “As far as being a ‘true democracy’, I prefer to measure that concept on a scale. Here, the measurement has improved.”
Still, he notes that Nguema remains part of the same elite that has long ruled Gabon. “His most evident quality is that, unlike the young man who was being groomed to inherit the Bongo dynastic fortune, Oligui Nguema actually lives in Gabon.”
That young man—Ali Bongo’s son, Noureddin—remains under house arrest along with his mother, Sylvia, amid corruption charges. A new constitutional clause now bars dual nationals like him from running for office, a move widely seen as targeting the Bongo heir.
What’s Next?
Polls are set to close at 6pm local time, with initial results expected from Sunday. However, final tallies may take up to two weeks.
The vote marks a pivotal moment not just for Gabon but for the trajectory of African military-led transitions. Whether this election proves to be a democratic turning point or a rebranding of authoritarian rule remains to be seen.
As the sun set over the Mont-Bouet market in Libreville, a vendor summed up the cautious mood: “We’ve waited for change for so long. Let’s see if this is finally it.”
Kate Bih contributed to this report
