Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema has been elected as Gabon’s president, securing 90.35% of the votes in the April 2025 election. His main opponent received 3.02%, and voter turnout was 70.4% among over 920,000 registered voters. This election marks a significant step in Gabon’s return to constitutional governance after the 2023 coup.
Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema has been elected as Gabon’s new president after receiving 90.35 percent of the votes in the recent election held on April 12, 2025. The announcement was made by Gabon’s Interior Minister, Hermann Immongault, on April 13. This election is significant as it marks Gabon’s first presidential election since the 2023 coup that ousted former President Ali Bongo Ondimba.
Nguema, who has served as the transitional president since the coup, faced minimal competition, with his main opponent, Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze, securing only 3.02 percent of the vote. The election attracted a voter turnout of 70.4 percent, with 920,200 registered voters, including over 28,000 residing abroad. This election exemplifies the concluding phase of Gabon’s political transition back to constitutional governance.
In preparation for the election, Nguema resigned from his military position as mandated by Gabon’s Electoral Code. Other candidates included Axel Stophene Ibinga Ibinga and Thierry Yvon Michel Ngoma, both of whom are businessmen, alongside the only female candidate, Zenaba Gninga Chaning, who focused her campaign on population growth and cultural revival.
The election was characterized by a “calm and peaceful atmosphere,” as highlighted by the spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, Jean Eric Nziengui Mangala. A report from the Citizen Observers Network indicated that 74 percent of polling stations opened on time, and 99 percent were well-equipped for voting, underlining the election’s organization. In total, 48 observer missions, including around 2,450 observers, monitored the electoral process.
Following the approval of Gabon’s new constitution in November 2024, the presidential term is now seven years, renewable once. The electoral provisions dictate that a president must achieve an absolute majority in the first round; if not, a runoff occurs between the leading candidates.
Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema’s election as Gabon’s president represents a pivotal moment in the nation’s political landscape following a coup. His overwhelming victory indicates strong support for transitioning back to constitutional order, with an emphasis on peaceful elections and robust international observation. This election, characterized by significant voter participation, sets the stage for a new era in Gabon, defined by a new constitutional framework and clear electoral guidelines.
Original Source: english.news.cn
