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Al Jazeera
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Will a moonwalking general become Gabon's next president?
The small African nation of Gabon is voting on Saturday in its first executive elections since a military coup in 2023 ended the 50-year dynastic rule of the Bongo political family. Brice Clotaite Oligui Nguema, coup leader-turned-transition president, is the main candidate among four competitors and is widely expected to win the elections, despite controversial reforms he has put into place that experts say were tailored to make him eligible for the vote. Located in West-central Africa, on the Atlantic coast, Gabon is rich in extractives like crude oil. The country, with a population of 2.2 million, is also part of the vital Congo Basin and boasts millions of acres of rainforest replete with varieties of plant and animal species. However, those natural resources have not translated into any meaningful distribution of wealth, as one family and a small political elite have ruled the country for the past five decades. The opposition is weak, experts say; the press is largely toothless; and Gabonese are distrustful of politicians. Located right on the equator, Gabon's lingua franca is French, and local languages include Fang, Mbere and several others. Libreville, the breezy coastal capital, is the largest city, followed by the port town of Port-Gentil. Here's what to know about the vote: Four candidates, all male, have been approved by the electoral college. All are running independently. That's because the candidates want to distance themselves from the former governing Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), Douglas Yates, a professor at the American Graduate School in Paris, told Al Jazeera. The PDG has been in power since 1967 with little opposition and represents the only truly established party. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema (50): As head of the Royal Guard, Nguema led the coup that overthrew former President Ali Bongo, who is also his cousin, on August 30, 2023. The military general previously served as aide-de-camp to Omar Bongo before he was posted overseas to the embassies in Morocco and Senegal. He thereafter returned to lead the elite Royal Guard that protects the president, a post he kept until seizing power. Following the coup, Nguema promised to hand over to a civilian government within two years. He has been praised for moving rapidly towards that transition as opposed to military government counterparts in the West African countries of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Guinea. He's also managed to maintain ties with Gabon's former colonial leader, France, while the others have actively cut ties with France. A new constitution affirming strict two-term limits was passed following a November referendum. Nguema is promising to 'lift' and transform Gabon economically. He has cleaned up his military image since the coup, sporting suave suits and T-shirts in his packed, colourful campaign rallies. In one, he was seen moonwalking on stage to loud applause from his supporters. Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze (57): In a country where the opposition has historically been weak due to decades of elections widely viewed as rigged, Bilie-By-Nze poses the biggest challenge to Nguema. The career politician, unlike many of his more elite counterparts, comes from a low-income background. In 2015, he entered politics and went on to serve in several ministerial positions under Ali Bongo. He was prime minister until the 2023 coup. Backed by his Together for Gabon political group, Bilie-By-Nze has chosen a low-key door-to-door campaign in the lead-up to the election. He has tried to underplay his role in the previous government – even criticising the former ruling PDG party, which he was a part of until 2023. His promises of 'another Gabon' include a focus on urban renewal, better health insurance and overall economic growth. However, experts say it is tough for many voters to trust him. 'Despite his efforts to distance himself from his past, everybody knows that he was the last prime minister of Ali Bongo, and therefore is tarnished,' Yates said. Stephane Germain Iloko Boussengui: The medical doctor, popularly known as Iloko, was once a spokesperson for the former ruling PDG party before its downfall in the coup. He formed the Together for Gabon group with By-Nze, but the two men clashed, leading to Iloko's exit in March. His rallies are colourful: In one campaign event in Libreville, Iloko wore traditional wrappers and danced with his supporters, who sported T-shirts with his photos on them. Despite his political past, Iloko claimed to be a 'candidate for the people oppressed for 56 years' in an interview with local publication L'Union. He claimed he tried to right things in the past government but was often shut down. Now, he is promising to provide jobs and build roads and schools, particularly in rural areas. He also wants to reduce government spending and increase teachers' welfare. As a staunch critic of the military government, Iloko has called for the establishment of an independent electoral commission, saying the new constitution established in November grants the president too much power. Joseph Lapensee Essingone (53): A technocrat, Essingone is a director at the country's Directorate of Taxes. Educated in Gabon and France, he has presented himself as a new face in politics with no ties to the tainted past administrations. Essingone says he wants to 'rupture' the current political system and usher in economic reforms. He has promised an end to the mismanagement of resources and bad governance if elected. Nguema is poised to win the elections, analysts agree. His supporters have praised him for taking steps towards civilian rule, including: However, his critics are quick to point out that Nguema remains part of the same establishment that has ruled Gabon for decades and reportedly also reaped wealth from those ties. 'As we've seen with other military seizures of power in Africa in recent years, these transitions are accompanied by declining levels of civil liberties, political participation and transparency,' analyst Hany Wahila of the United States-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, therefore, resembles more a continuation of the existing unequal process rather than progress,' she added. Still, the fact that Nguema has moved forward on his election promises and kickstarted infrastructure development is progress, Yates of the American Graduate School in Paris said. The alternative, Yates said, would have kept Gabon stuck. '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,' Yates said. He was referring to Ali Bongo's London-based first son, 33-year-old Noureddin Bongo, who is currently under house arrest in Gabon on charges of treason and fraud, along with his mother and French national, Sylvia Bongo. Nguema's new constitution has barred people of dual nationality from running for the presidency, a move many believe is aimed at the Bongo heir. Ali Bongo himself was released from detention shortly after the coup and remains in the capital. Gabon's democracy may yet be young, but it is on its way, Yates added. 'As far as being a 'true democracy', I prefer to measure that concept on an ordinal scale from 'more' to 'less' democracy. Here, the measurement has improved,' he said.
BBC News
11-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Who be di leading candidates for di 12 April Gabon election
Di pipo of Gabon dey vote on 12 April to choose dia president; di first election for di kontri since di coup wey remove Ali Bongo, di kontri longest serving president wey im family rule for 56 years. Among di five west and Central African kontris wey experience coup since 2020, Gabon na di only one wey dey return to civilian rule or maintain close relations wit dia former colonial power, France. Ali Bongo bin go exile afta dat coup for 2023, and general Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema take ova. At di time many pipo bin tok say di general na di "man of di pipo" afta many years of di Bongo dynasty. Around 860,000 registered voters dey expected to vote for dis election wey dey happun 19 months afta di coup. Di military goment bin promise to restore civilian rule. For 2024, Gabon bin adopt fresh constitution wey 92% of di pipo approve for referendum. Di new electoral code also dey allow military pipo to run for office as president, na so di transition president General Nguema bin dey stand. 23 pipo bin apply to contest di election and dem write to di national commission wey dey organize and coordinate di election and referendum. But on 27 March, di Gabon constitutional court bin validate only 8 candidates. Who be di top candidates? General Brice Oligui Nguema Di current president of di transition na di favourite to win di election, according to sabi pipo for di kontri. Di 50-year-old soldier already bin dey predict say im go win di election. Just five years ago, di pipo of Gabon no tink say im fit to dey stand for election to lead di kontri; especially afta im spend 10 years outside di kontri wen dem sack am from di inner circle of di Bongo family. For 2020, one investigation by US anti corruption group OCCRP tok say Oligui Nguema and di Bongo family don buy expensive property for di US wit plenty cash. Di report tok say di general don spend $1m to buy three properties, but im tok say "weda for France or di US, private life na private, make pipo respect dat". Oligui don unite di army. If dem vote am as president, im tok say im go change di economy, make goment efficient and bring ogbonge laws wey go make Gabon pipo wey don dey live abroad, to return to di kontri. Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze na former prime minister for di kontri. Bifor, im be member of di Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) wia im be loyal supporter of di former president Ali Bongo. Afta im comot di PDG, Bilie-By-Nze form new movement wey dem call "Awu-Mawu" wey mean "Dare to hope" for English . Im tok say di movement na "bold and unifying political alternative for anoda Gabon", afta im fire di transitional goment wia general Oligui bin dey lead afta di 2023 coup to remove Ali Bongo. Bilie By Nze tok say di transition goment "no get any real project; no vision for di kontri." Ahead of di election, im kontinu to fire di transition goment say "Gabonese democracy dey in danger." "We gatz fight to end dis system and send di military back to dia barracks," im tell Reuters. Di 57-year-old say im dey confident to win di election afta im move across di kontri to dey campaign. "We bin tok wit many pipo, we don carry our message to dem, evribodi dey want change, dis na wetin we dey fight for," Bilie-By-Nze bin write on top im social media afta dia last rounds on 9 April. Zènaba Chaning Gninga na di only female candidate Zènaba Chaning Gninga na di only female candidate for dis election. She be di youngest among di eight candidates. She be entrepreneur wit plenty business for real estate, beauty and event sector. Di 36-year-old for her campaign bin tell pipo say to win di election "na rupture wey go bring solution to youth unemployment for Gabon". "Time don reach to change direction, we need new blood, new pesin wey dey love di pipo." Zènaba tok say "my first priority if I win di election na to create jobs for di pipo across di kontri." Axel Stophène Ibinga Ibinga Oga Axel na entrepreneur wey dey head one investment for Ax capital investment for Gabon. Di 44-year-old na candidate of di 2023 elections wey dem cancel wia im tok say Gabon neva progress since di coup. Im pledge say im go promote "entrepreneurial spirit to focus on jobs and to develop di kontri," im tok during im campaigns. Oga Axel tok say im go "build society wey base on responsible management of resources, no debts, no loans, only bold choices wit budget wey focus on di real priorities of di Gabon pipo". Im also tok say im go focus on health, education, infrastructure, employment and social issues. Stèphane lloko Boussengui Oga Stèphane na 63-year-old doctor and di former tok-tok pesin for di Gabonese Democratic Party. Im comot di party afta di coup for 2023 wia im set up di "Together for Gabon" movement wit fellow candidate Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze. Afta im choose to stand alone for dis elections, Stèphane say im go "throw out" di constitution wey di transition goment don produce. Thierry Yvon Michel Angoma Oga Thierry na entrepreneur wey don dey stand for dis election afta dem cancel di 2023 election. Im be 46 years. Im don campaign make Gabon comot di CFA Franc currency and also promise to make many tins free for di kontri like healthcare, water, electricity and odas. Alain Simplice Boungoueres Afta im serve for many post for Ali Bongo Gabonese Democratic Party, di civil engineer dey try to stand as candidate for di election. Im tok say if dem vote for im to become president, im go bring plenty change for di politics of Gabon. Wetin im dey promise na economic development wey im say im "go restore di democratic values of Gabon". Di man wey dem appoint as secretary for di Gabonese ministry of industry for February 2024 say im dey concerned about improving di living condition of di Gabonese pipo. Joseph Lapensèe Essigone Oga Essigone na lawyer and tax expert for Gabon. Im be 53 years and im dey present imsef as di pesin to rescue Gabon. E say im go unite di pipo of Gabon.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gabon approves coup leader and ex-PM among candidates for presidential vote
LIBREVILLE (Reuters) - Gabon's Constitutional Court has approved a list of eight candidates to run in the Central African nation's presidential election next month, including interim President Brice Oligui Nguema, who seized power in a military coup in 2023. Although transitional leaders are not usually allowed to run for election, Gabon approved a new constitution by a landslide in November that exempted Nguema, stoking opposition and analyst concerns that the junta would seek to remain in power. The junta promised the constitutional referendum would be a stepping stone to democratic rule. Nguema, 50, ended the long-standing rule of his predecessor Ali Bongo and his family over the oil-rich but impoverished nation in the coup, the eighth in West and Central Africa between 2020 and 2023. Nguema's main rival is tipped to be Bongo's last prime minister Alain Claude Billie By Nze, 57, who is running as an independent candidate. Other candidates approved by the court on Friday include Stephane Germain Iloko Boussengui, a former member of Bongo's Gabonese Democratic Party who has formed his own movement, the "large rainbow gathering", and tax inspector Joseph Lapensee Essigone. Gabonese entrepreneur Gninga Chaning Zenaba is the only woman running. The election is scheduled to take place on April 12.
Reuters
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Gabon approves coup leader and ex-PM among candidates for presidential vote
LIBREVILLE, March 22 (Reuters) - Gabon's Constitutional Court has approved a list of eight candidates to run in the Central African nation's presidential election next month, including interim President Brice Oligui Nguema, who seized power in a military coup in 2023. Although transitional leaders are not usually allowed to run for election, Gabon approved a new constitution by a landslide in November that exempted Nguema, stoking opposition and analyst concerns that the junta would seek to remain in power. The junta promised the constitutional referendum would be a stepping stone to democratic rule. Nguema, 50, ended the long-standing rule of his predecessor Ali Bongo and his family over the oil-rich but impoverished nation in the coup, the eighth in West and Central Africa between 2020 and 2023. Nguema's main rival is tipped to be Bongo's last prime minister Alain Claude Billie By Nze, 57, who is running as an independent candidate. Other candidates approved by the court on Friday include Stephane Germain Iloko Boussengui, a former member of Bongo's Gabonese Democratic Party who has formed his own movement, the "large rainbow gathering", and tax inspector Joseph Lapensee Essigone. Gabonese entrepreneur Gninga Chaning Zenaba is the only woman running. The election is scheduled to take place on April 12.
