Gabon’s junta chief clinches landslide victory in first post-Bongo era election

Brice Oligui Nguema, the military leader who ousted long-time president Ali Bongo in a 2023 coup, has won Gabon’s presidential election with a staggering 90.35% of the vote, according to provisional results announced by the Interior Ministry.
This marks the first election in over five decades not dominated by the Bongo family, whose rule was widely criticized for corruption and economic mismanagement. The 50-year-old former head of the Republican Guard and aide to the Bongo patriarch now begins a seven-year term with the possibility of one renewal. Voter turnout surged to 70.4%, significantly higher than in the disputed 2023 election. The front-runner thus reportedly defeated seven other candidates in the race, including former prime minister Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who won just 3% of the votes.
Running under the slogan “We Build Together,” Oligui shed his military uniform and campaigned on reform — pledging to crack down on corruption, diversify the oil-heavy economy, and invest in agriculture and tourism. Despite his strong mandate, critics question whether the victory signals real transformation or a repackaging of the old guard. Oligui’s deep ties to the former regime and his sudden shift from military ruler to elected president fuel skepticism. With Gabon’s international partners and its citizens watching closely, Oligui now faces the challenge of turning promises into lasting reform — and proving that his leadership marks a true break from the past.