Gabon heads to first post-Bongo era polls; coup leader Nguema eyes presidency

Gabon will hold its first presidential election on Saturday (12 April) since the August 2023 military coup that ended over five decades of Bongo family rule.

Interim president and coup leader Brice Oligui Nguema, who has styled himself as an anti-corruption reformer, is widely expected to win. Nguema, a former Republican Guard chief and cousin to ousted president Ali Bongo, has earned significant public support by pledging change, transparency, and economic renewal. Many Gabonese see him as a fresh start after years of mismanagement and inequality, but their biggest concern is the high cost of living, especially food prices and other aspects of daily life.

Yet, critics question whether this election truly breaks with the past. Nguema, backed by Bongo’s old political party, the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), faces his strongest challenge from former prime minister Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who accuses the interim government of unfairly tilting the electoral process. Observers from the African Union (AU) and the Commonwealth are monitoring the vote, which comes under a new constitution limiting presidents to two seven-year terms.

Though Nguema has promised a new chapter, analysts note continuity with the old system, including persistent ties to France and a political landscape dominated by recycled elites. “The goal was not to end a system. The goal was to end a regime,” Fred Kapabi, independent political consultant, explains. “This is the reason why, after having taken Ali Bongo and his regime out, you realize that we have witnessed a massive return of (PDG supporters).” Still, for many voters, stability and reform outweigh concerns. As Gabon turns the page, Saturday election may mark the end of a dynasty — but not yet the end of its system.