Latest news with #Bongos
Daily Maverick
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
As Gabon looks to the future, its task of renewal is not merely one of governance, but of nation-building
Gabonese voters have given President Brice Oligui Nguema a strong mandate to break with the country's past and steer economic and political renewal. Nineteen months after the military-led coup that ousted Ali Bongo and ended the 56-year Bongo dynasty, the country has turned a page with a landmark presidential election. President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who led the 2023 coup, was the favourite to win the April 2025 election, gaining an overwhelming 90.35% of the vote. Although opposition candidates criticised the process, international observers generally found the polls credible. The election marked the end of Gabon's post-coup transitional period and presents a unique opportunity for the new administration to engineer sociopolitical and economic renewal. The 2025 turnout of 70.11% was much higher than past polls. The three previous elections were marred by disputes, while the last was less contested. This suggests renewed trust in the electoral process and reflects the population's desire for change observed in the wake of the coup. It also shows high expectations for the future. While the coup led to the Bongo family's ousting, Gabon's political and socioeconomic environment still reflects the past. The continued role of several state actors – including Nguema, who hails from the same fiefdom as the Bongos and played a role in the former regime – raises concerns about the depth of political transformation. Also, the new cabinet includes many government figures from the transition period. A thorough renewal necessitates an audacious, innovative approach grounded in inclusivity, transparency, accountability and open political competition. Nguema must demonstrate a shift from the past. A clear, impactful message of a fresh start is needed, along with legal, structural and governance reforms. The political enthusiasm that followed the coup must give way to democratic consolidation. For the first time in decades, Gabonese are hopeful about their future. Nurturing this spirit requires building representative and responsive institutions. Nguema campaigned on the themes of governance, economic diversification, reducing youth unemployment and improving access to basic services. These themes are generally in line with Gabon's major challenges. However, a thorough renewal necessitates an audacious, innovative approach grounded in inclusivity, transparency, accountability and open political competition. The November 2024 constitution adopted by referendum limits presidential terms to two consecutive cycles and maintains a direct universal suffrage election system. This can protect against constitutional interference by incumbents, which has become common practice in Africa. Change from a strong presidential system to a semi-presidential system – with a rebalancing of powers between the executive, parliament and judiciary – also guards against hyper-presidentialism. However, the ability and will of the executive to preserve this constitution are crucial to Gabon's renewed democratic project. With legislative elections scheduled for August, the composition of the upcoming national assembly and senate will also be a key factor. The worry is that Nguema's electoral landslide could see opposition voices in the national assembly and senate marginalised by the overwhelming support for him and his political movement. Restoring civilians' trust hinges largely on reducing corruption, especially in government. Throughout the transition and electoral canvassing, Nguema garnered public support through high-profile anti-corruption campaigns and arrests of former Bongo allies. These practices must be anchored in transparent, fair and rigorous judicial processes. Strengthening existing bodies that hold prosecutorial powers and maintaining judicial independence is also essential. Economic reform is equally important to help Nguema move Gabon and its people away from the past. The country is a leading central African economy and one of the five largest economies among Africa's eight upper-middle-income countries. However, it relies heavily on its extractive sector, specifically oil, making it vulnerable to external shocks. To diversify the economy and create jobs, significant infrastructure investments are needed to boost sectors such as agriculture, forestry, transport, tourism and digital technology. A recent €350-million agreement between Innovo and Gabon's government aims to build a stormwater network, wastewater treatment facility in Port-Gentil and roadway lighting for the highway to Omboué. Another key infrastructure project is the 600-megawatt Booué hydroelectric dam worth $2.5-billion, which aims to meet the country's growing energy demands and promote sustainable growth. These projects align with Gabon's plan to modernise transportation, water management and energy, laying the groundwork for economic transformation. Since the 2023 coup, Gabon has undertaken nationalisation efforts in the transport, timber and oil sectors. The oil sector accounted for 25.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023. Timber, although representing only 3.2% of GDP that year, is important for job creation and economic diversification. Considering the contribution of these sectors to Gabon's economy, nationalisation – if controlled and supervised to prevent corruption and mismanagement – should enable the state to reap additional revenues. Expanding public-private partnerships and attracting foreign investment are also crucial. Electoral promises must be honoured by breaking away from the Bongo legacy through merit-based appointments, transparent public resource management, strong regulatory systems and institutional independence and oversight. Reducing high youth unemployment – 35.99% in 2024 – must be part of this economic momentum. High rates of joblessness fuel political disenchantment among young people, driving a sense of exclusion from social and political progress. Poverty alleviation is also urgent. As of 2023, 31.3% of Gabonese lived below the poverty line. According to forecasting by the Institute for Security Studies' African Futures team, an integrated push to create jobs across key sectors would not only reduce unemployment but 'bring Gabon close to achieving the [Sustainable Development Goal] on poverty' by 2043. Of course, this depends on the government's capacity to improve governance, boost the economy and roll out inclusive socioeconomic programmes. Two steps are vital to delivering a 'new' Gabon that puts its people first. First, electoral promises must be honoured by breaking away from the Bongo legacy through merit-based appointments, transparent public resource management, strong regulatory systems, and institutional independence and oversight. Second, the government must diversify the economy to achieve reductions in poverty and unemployment. This requires bold investment in infrastructure development without increasing public debt and dependency on foreign aid. The new administration's task of renewal is not merely one of governance, but of nation building. That will test whether Gabon emerges from the long shadow of its political past to build a more just, inclusive and resilient future. DM
Russia Today
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Military ruler wins presidential election in African state
Gabon's interim leader, General Brice Oligui Nguema, has been elected president with 90.35% of the vote, according to the provisional results announced by Interior Minister Hermann Immongault on Sunday. Saturday's election is the first since Nguema led a military coup in August 2023 to overthrow his cousin, former President Ali Bongo, shortly after he was declared the winner of a disputed presidential election. Bongo, who was accused of corruption and irresponsible governance, had been in power for 14 years after succeeding his father, Omar Bongo Ondimba, who ruled for more than four decades before his death in 2009. 'Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema is elected by absolute majority... with 575,222 votes,' Hermann Immongault reported. Nguema resigned from the army to pursue his presidential bid. His main opponent, former Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie By Nze, received around 3% of the vote. None of the other six candidates gained more than 1%. READ MORE: What was behind the death of the first African Nobel Peace Prize winner? Turnout was reported at 70.4%, higher than the 56.65% in the disputed August 2023 election. Around 920,000 voters, including over 28,000 abroad, were registered for the election. The Interior Ministry said the results will be announced by April 16. During his campaign, Nguema pledged to reduce the country's dependence on oil by diversifying the economy and boosting sectors such as agriculture, industry, and tourism. The election was conducted under a new constitution approved in November 2024, which introduced a limit of two seven-year presidential terms. It abolished the position of prime minister and bans family members from succeeding a president. Gabon has been ruled by the Bongos for over 50 years. The previous constitution allowed for unlimited five-year terms. The transitional period is expected to end in August 2025 following presidential, parliamentary, and local elections. READ MORE: Gabon's military ruler declares bid for presidency The former French colony has one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Its economy relies heavily on oil, which makes up around 40% of GDP, according to IMF data.
Al Jazeera
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Gabon votes in first presidential election since the 2023 coup
Voters in Gabon are casting their ballots in a presidential election, as military leader Brice Oligui Nguema looks to cement his grip on power in the first election since he led the 2023 coup. Polls opened in the country at 7am (06:00 GMT) on Saturday, with reports of thousands of people queueing outside polling stations across Libreville, the seaside capital. Voting will be held in the country's nine provinces until 6pm local time (17:00 GMT). Results are expected to be announced within two weeks of the vote. Nearly one million people, including some 28,000 overseas, are registered to vote in this oil-rich but poor African nation of 2.3 million people. Al Jazeera's Ali Hashem, reporting from Libreville, said that voters are looking forward to casting their ballots, but are 'stuck between hope and fear'. Nguema, who had been instrumental in ending 55 years of iron-fisted dynastic rule of the Bongo family led by former leader Ali Bongo, has been leading in opinion polls. Bongo family members were accused of looting Gabon's wealth. Aurele Ossantanga Mouila, 30, voted for the first time ever after finishing his shift as a croupier in a casino. 'I did not have confidence in the earlier regime,' he said. Nguema took the role of transitional president while overseeing the formation of a government that includes civilians, tasked with drawing up a new constitution after the 2023 coup. The country is heading to the polls at a time of high unemployment, regular power and water shortages, a lack of infrastructure and heavy government debt. Nguema ditched his military uniform as he campaigned for a seven-year term against seven rivals, including Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze, who served as prime minister under Ali Bongo before the coup. He has predicted a 'historic victory' in the election. 'The builder is here, the special candidate, the one you called,' Nguema said on Thursday among the music and dancing at his closing rally in the capital, Libreville. But critics accuse Nguema, who had promised to hand power back to civilians, of failing to move on from the years of plunder of the country's vast mineral wealth under the Bongos, under whom he served for years. Bilie By Nze, Nguema's main opponent, has cast himself as the candidate for a 'complete rupture'. 'In reality, it's an election of total change. It's a challenge and we are at a crossroads,' he told Al Jazeera. He has accused Nguema, who led the Republican Guard in the Bongo years, of representing a continuity of the old system. Nguema served as former aide-de-camp to Omar Bongo before becoming chief of the presidential guard under his son Ali Bongo. Whoever wins will have to meet the high hopes of a country where one in three people lives below the poverty line despite its vast resource wealth, according to the World Bank. Gabon's debt rose to 73.3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) last year and is projected to reach 80 percent this year.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hattiesburg Zoo's Eastern Bongo has successful horn surgery
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT) – Klaus, an Eastern Bongo at the Hattiesburg Zoo, no longer has matching horns. According to zoo officials, Klaus underwent a procedure to repair his damaged left horn after keepers noted it had cracked. Hattiesburg Zoo accredited by Association of Zoos and Aquariums Dr. Julia MacGregor and other members of the animal care team devised a treatment plan to address the crack, which involved removing the damaged portion of the horn, sealing it with a two-part epoxy putty, reinforcing the putty with a fiberglass tape, applying a second layer of two-part epoxy and finished by wrapping the horn with vet wrap for extra support. Klaus was sedated throughout the procedure. 'Our team worked together seamlessly to devise a plan that was implemented methodically so that Klaus was under anesthesia for the shortest amount of time possible, which is in the best interest of his health,' said MacGregor. 'Klaus' horns may not be a perfect match, but he is no worse for the ware.' Klaus is three years old and came to the Hattiesburg Zoo from the Montgomery Zoo two years ago. Bongos typically live to be around 20 years of age under human care. The Hattiesburg has three resident bongos Klaus, Ralph and Ghost. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Russia Today
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Gabon's military ruler declares bid for presidency
Gabon's transitional leader General Brice Oligui Nguema has announced his intention to run as a candidate in the Central African nation's presidential election, scheduled for next month. The military ruler led a group of Gabonese soldiers to overthrow his cousin, former President Ali Bongo, shortly after he had been declared the winner of a disputed presidential election in August 2023. The ousted leader, accused of corruption and irresponsible governance, had been in power for 14 years after succeeding his father, Omar Bongo Ondimba, who ruled for more than four decades before his death in 2009. Gen. Nguema, who was then the republican guard chief, has been the interim president ever since. He had previously promised to oversee 'free, fair, and credible' elections in order to transfer power to civilians. However, addressing a rally in the mineral-rich country's capital, Libreville, on Monday, he said his decision to run for president on April 12 came 'after careful consideration and in response to your numerous appeals.' 'I am a builder, and I need your courage, your strength, to build this country,' Nguema told his supporters, who defied the heavy rains to attend the gathering, which also marked his 50th birthday. 'If we have been able to do everything in 18 months, imagine what we can do in 7 years,' he added. In January, the Gabonese parliament approved a new electoral code, laying the groundwork for the April votes. The legislation permits all Gabonese nationals under the age of 70 to stand for elections. Last November, voters in the former French colony overwhelmingly endorsed a new constitution, which introduced a seven-year presidential term that can only be renewed once. It abolished the position of prime minister and bans family members from succeeding a president, in a country that has been ruled by the Bongos for over 50 years. The previous constitution allows for unlimited five-year terms. Reports suggest Nguema had resigned from the army in order to pursue his presidential bid. However, the military government claimed on Monday that the transitional leader will be required to abandon his military uniform temporarily while running for election. 'If elected, he will have to make a permanent provision. If he is not elected, he will return to the barracks, just like any serving military,' the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) said in a statement published on Facebook.
