Just over 19 months after a bloodless coup ended more than 50 years of Bongo family rule, the people of Gabon are preparing to head to the polls to elect a new president — an extraordinary move that defies the growing trend of military rulers in Africa entrenching themselves in power.
Leading the race is the man behind that peaceful transition: Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema. Since seizing power, he has traded his military fatigues for a politician’s suit and built a powerful presence on the national stage. The former commander of Gabon’s elite Republican Guard, now 50 years old, is widely expected to win a decisive first-round victory in Saturday’s election.
Oligui Nguema’s popularity stems from a public eager to move beyond decades of dynastic leadership. Electoral rules have also worked in his favour, barring some key opposition figures from the race. His campaign slogan — “C’BON,” a play on the French “c’est bon” (meaning “it’s good”) — highlights his initials and his effort to position himself as a fresh, positive force.
His main challenger is Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, the last prime minister under ousted President Ali Bongo, and one of the few high-profile political figures who has not aligned himself with the coup leader’s new vision. Known by his initials ACBBN, he remains a distant second in the polls.
Victory would grant Oligui Nguema a seven-year mandate and control over a resource-rich country of just 2.5 million people. Gabon is not only a significant oil producer but also the world’s second-largest exporter of manganese and home to some of the most biodiverse areas of the Congo Basin rainforest.
Despite a violent crackdown in Libreville following the 2016 election, Gabon has largely escaped the instability plaguing many of its neighbors. That calm persisted when Oligui Nguema and his Republican Guard took power on 30 August 2023, just hours after election officials announced, during a midnight broadcast, that Ali Bongo Ondimba had won a third term with 64% of the vote.
The result lacked credibility. Bongo, who succeeded his father Omar in 2009, had barely edged out a victory in the contentious 2016 election. After suffering a stroke in 2018 during a trip to Saudi Arabia, public sympathy initially surged. But that goodwill faded as he pushed for a third term, despite his frail condition. Anger mounted over the growing influence of his French-born wife Sylvia and son Nourredin Bongo Valentin, seen by many as trying to preserve family dominance behind the scenes.
When the military arrested Sylvia and Nourredin, and confined Ali Bongo to house arrest in his private villa, celebrations erupted across the country. The public had grown tired of the Bongo dynasty’s seemingly unshakable grip on power.
Even Gabon’s elite — from bureaucrats to civil society leaders — welcomed the coup. Sensing the national mood, Oligui Nguema moved quickly to broaden support. He brought in former officials, critics, and civil society figures into the transitional administration and appointed senate. Political detainees were freed, though Sylvia and Nourredin remain in custody pending trial on corruption charges.
Unlike other recent coup leaders in Francophone Africa — in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger — Oligui Nguema refrained from cracking down on dissent or the media. His administration has been comparatively open and inclusive.
On the international stage, he took a more conciliatory approach than his West African counterparts. Senior officials were dispatched to reassure global partners of Gabon’s commitment to a civilian democratic transition. Relations with France, Gabon’s former colonial ruler and long-time ally of the Bongo regime, remain strong.
In a major diplomatic gesture, France and Gabon agreed to transform the French military base Camp de Gaulle into a joint training center — a clear sign of mutual trust.
Domestically, Oligui Nguema has shown a sharp political instinct. He launched long-delayed infrastructure projects and took steps to address public concerns. In a bold economic move, his administration acquired the Gabonese assets of several foreign oil companies, including Britain’s Tullow Oil, reflecting growing regional support for reclaiming national resources.
To ease financial constraints, the government tapped into regional credit markets and issued a $520 million Eurobond in February. Much of the proceeds went toward repaying old debts, and arrears to the World Bank are also being cleared.
But with his expected election victory, the real challenges begin.
Until now, the transition period has allowed Oligui Nguema wide latitude with minimal public scrutiny. A new constitution bans dynastic succession, and his decision to abolish the post of prime minister, despite concerns over concentrated executive power, met little resistance.
Now, the burden of leadership rests squarely on his shoulders. While he has drawn high-profile support from figures like opposition veteran Alexandre Barro-Chambrier and rainforest activist Marc Ona Essangui, the spotlight remains firmly on him.
Gabon’s future hinges on how he balances competing priorities: safeguarding its globally praised conservation efforts while maximizing the economic potential of its minerals and oil; protecting rural communities’ hunting and farming rights; and delivering jobs and better services to urban populations, especially in Libreville, home to nearly half the country’s people.
One figure notably absent from the race is trade unionist Jean Rémy Yama, who commands significant grassroots support. He was disqualified from running due to his inability to produce his father’s birth certificate — a controversial requirement that may foreshadow discontent among his base.
For Oligui Nguema, the hardest work lies ahead. Expectations are sky-high. Meeting them will determine whether his democratic experiment becomes a model for Africa — or just another chapter in a familiar cycle.
Paul Melly is a consulting fellow with the Africa Programme at Chatham House in London.
Subscribe to Follow Global Trends for daily global news.
Find Out How To Make Money As A Full Time Writer/Blogger Guide.
To Advertise, Advertise Your Affiliate Links on FollowGlobalTrends.com for Just $1 Per Link Per Month!
Related Articles
Davido: The King of Endorsements in Africa
Wizkid Takes a Jab at Davido Again: Is There a Deeper Feud?
Davido Criticizes INEC Over Edo Gubernatorial Election, Explains His Interest
Davido sparks retirement rumors with recent statement
Davido Joins Forces with Nigerian Chess Prodigy, Tunde Onakoya in Bid for Guinness World Record
Meet The Richest Musician In Nigeria: Davido – $90 Million
An Intimate Photo Of Davido And Model Bonita Maria Leaked
Written By Elegbe Theodore