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2025 Gabonese presidential election

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2025 Gabonese presidential election
← 2023 12 April 2025 2032 →
Turnout70.69%
 
Nominee Brice Oligui Nguema Alain Claude Bilie By Nze
Party RdB EPG
Popular vote 588,074 19,265
Percentage 94.85% 3.11%
President before election

Brice Oligui Nguema (transitional)
Military

Elected President

Brice Oligui Nguema
RdB

Politics of Gabon
Constitution
Government
Parliament
Administrative divisions
Elections
Foreign relations

A presidential election was held in Gabon on 12 April 2025.[1] They were the first election in the country since the Bongo dynasty was overthrown in the 2023 coup after 56 years in power. Incumbent transitional president Brice Oligui Nguema ran as an Independent, under his Rally of Builders platform.[2]

Voter turnout was 70%, the highest since 1993, the first multi-party elections.[3] The following day, Oligui was proclaimed the winner of the elections, receiving 90% of the votes, while his main opponent Alain Claude Bilie By Nze received 3%.[4][5]

Background

[edit]
Main article: 2023 Gabonese coup d'état

In August 2023, a general election was held where incumbent president Ali Bongo won a third term with 64% of the votes. The results were heavily controversial and disputed and four days later, the Gabonese Army and the Gabonese Republican Guard, led by Brigadier General Brice Oligui Nguema, who was a cousin of Bongo, led a coup d'état which ousted and arrested Bongo and his government, annulled the election results, and dissolved all state institutions. The military assumed control of the country and established a junta with Nguema as transitional president.[6][7][8]

On 13 November, the junta promised free and fair elections to be held.[9] Nguema and the junta promised to return power to civilians at the end of a two year military transition. However in early March he resigned from the military and presented himself as a civilian and therefore eligible to run as a candidate.[10]

On 9 January 2025, Oligui announced that the country would hold a presidential election on 22 March 2025. This decision followed the adoption of a new constitution in November 2024, which establishes a presidential system with term limits and stricter eligibility requirements.[11] However, on 22 January, the government announced that the election would be held on 12 April 2025.[1] The date was six months earlier than the transition arrangement allowed for.[10]

On 20 January, the Transitional Parliament approved a new electoral code, allowing members of the security forces and magistrates to run for office and reserving two seats in parliament for members of the Gabonese diaspora. It also allowed dual nationals to become candidates except in presidential elections, without having to renounce their other nationality and moved the responsibility of organising elections from local governments to the interior ministry.[12]

Applications were submitted between 27 February and 8 March 2025.[13]

Constitutional referendum

[edit]
Main article: 2024 Gabonese constitutional referendum

On 16 November 2024, Gabon held a constitutional referendum, which was approved by 91% of the electorate.[14] As a result, the post of prime minister was abolished, the presidential terms was set for seven years, renewable once, and as well as the president was required to have at least one parent who is Gabonese and have a Gabonese spouse. The referendum is also seen by many as a key step towards the return to civilian rule after the coup.[15]

Electoral system

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The president of Gabon is elected for a seven-year term via the two-round system.[16]

Candidates

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Declared and accepted

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Declared and not accepted

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Not allowed

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Conduct

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The Gabonese foreign ministry said that the African Union and the European Union would send observers to monitor the election.[24] Around 3,000 polling stations were utilised to serve around 920,000 voters, including 28,000 based overseas.[25] The Gabonese Civil Society Organizations Observation Mission said at least 94.8% of the polling stations that it observed operated under satisfactory conditions, while 98.6% of polling stations operated in a satisfactorily transparent manner.[26]

According to initial reports, international observers "did not notice any major incidents".[27] The Commonwealth Observer Group praised the presidential election as calm and orderly, and commended the improved media landscape with media stakeholders experiencing reduced state interference in editorial content, but called for citizens to become more involved in the electoral process.[28] However some opposition heavyweights who could have posed a serious political challenge were excluded from the race according to the BBC.[29]

Results

[edit]

Provisional results released on 13 April showed that Oligui had won 90.35% of the vote while Bilie by Nze won 3.02%, with the remainder going to six other candidates. Turnout was estimated at 70.4%.[30]

On 18 April, Interior and Security Minister Herman Immongo held a press briefing to correct "errors" in the previously announced election results. After a full centralization of the protocols, the results showed Oligui receiving 94.85% of the votes. The corrected results were submitted to the Constitutional Court, which will then make a final verdict.[31]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Brice Oligui NguemaRally of Builders588,07494.85
Alain Claude Bilie By NzeEnsemble pour le Gabon19,2653.11
Joseph Lapensée EssigoneIndependent3,7440.60
Gninga Chaning Zenaba [fr]Independent2,4190.39
Alain Simplice GombréGabonese Patriotic Party2,2990.37
Stéphane Germain IlokoLarge Rassemblement Arc-en-ciel2,2140.36
Axel Stophène Ibinga IbingaIndependent1,3840.22
Thierry Yvon Michel N'GomaIndependent6010.10
Total620,000100.00
Valid votes620,00096.63
Invalid/blank votes21,6323.37
Total votes641,632100.00
Registered voters/turnout907,66570.69
Source: Gabon24

Aftermath

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Bilie by Nze described the election as "unfree" and marred by the "hijacking of all State resources". Bilie By Nze added he nevertheless wishes the new leadership good luck and promised to remain in politics.[32]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Gabon announces date for Presidential election". Africanews. 23 January 2025. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  2. ^ a b Obangome, Gérald Wilfried (29 March 2025). "'Rassemblement des Bâtisseurs' gains support ahead of Gabon election". Africanews. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  3. ^ "Gabon military leader Brice Oligui Nguema wins presidential election". Al-Jazeera. Archived from the original on 13 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  4. ^ Dzonteu, Désiré-Clitandre. "President 2025: Oligui Nguéma, elected 4th President of Gabon with 90.35%". GabonReview. Gabon Review. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  5. ^ Dzonteu, Désiré-Clitandre. "President 2025: Oligui Nguéma, elected 4th President of Gabon with 90.35%". GabonReview. Gabon Review. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  6. ^ "A 'coup' in Gabon: Who, what and why?". Aljazeera. 30 August 2023. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  7. ^ Andrews, Frank (30 August 2023). "Gabon coup attempt sees military chiefs declare election results "cancelled" and "end to current regime"". CBS News. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  8. ^ "Gabon coup leader Nguema sworn in as transitional head of state". Aljazeera. 4 September 2023.
  9. ^ Njie, Paul; Booty, Natasha (13 November 2023). "Gabon elections: Junta plans post-Bongo polls for 2025". BBC News. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  10. ^ a b Yates, Douglas (10 April 2025). "Gabon elections: why a landmark vote won't bring real change". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 11 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  11. ^ "Gabon : l'élection présidentielle avancée au 22 mars ?". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Archived from the original on 14 January 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  12. ^ "Gabon approves new electoral law seen as win for junta leader". Africanews. 10 January 2025. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  13. ^ "Présidentielle au Gabon: dépôt des candidatures du 27 février au 8 mars". voaafrique.com (in French). 26 February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  14. ^ "Référendum 2024 au Gabon : La nouvelle constitution approuvée avec 91,80 % du Oui". INFOS GABON (in French). 18 November 2024. Archived from the original on 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Gabon votes in referendum on new constitution after military coup last year". Al Jazeera. 16 November 2024. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Analyse constitution". Gabon2025 (in French). Archived from the original on 24 January 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  17. ^ "Gabon: le général Brice Oligui Nguema officialise sa candidature à la présidence". Radio France International. 3 March 2025. Archived from the original on 5 April 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  18. ^ a b c d "Gabon's interim president to face three challengers in presidential poll". Africanews. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  19. ^ a b c d "Who are the candidates in Gabon's post-coup presidential election?". RFI. 11 April 2025. Archived from the original on 12 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  20. ^ "Gabon: Jean-Rémy Yama annonce sa candidature à l'élection présidentielle". RFI. 1 March 2025. Archived from the original on 3 March 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  21. ^ "Présidentielle au Gabon: les recours de quatre candidats validés, celui de Jean-Rémy Yama rejeté". RFI. 21 March 2025. Archived from the original on 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  22. ^ "Présidentielle au Gabon : pourquoi le syndicaliste Jean-Rémy Yama ne sera pas candidat". JeuneAfrique.com. Archived from the original on 31 March 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  23. ^ a b "Le grand invité Afrique – Gabon: «Un général qui a fait un coup [d'État] n'a peur de personne», dit le président Oligui Nguema". RFI. 25 March 2025.
  24. ^ Banchereau, Mark (10 April 2025). "Gabon will hold its first presidential election since the 2023 military coup". AP News. Archived from the original on 9 April 2025. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  25. ^ "Voters in Gabon choose a new president in the first election since the 2023 coup". Africanews. 12 April 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  26. ^ Goma, Yves-Laurent; Asadu, Chinedu (13 April 2025). "Voters in Gabon await results of presidential election, with likely victory for coup leader". AP News. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  27. ^ "Gabon's junta chief wins presidency by landslide, provisional results show". France24. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  28. ^ "Commonwealth Observer Group commends Gabon's peaceful polls, calls for increased civic participation". Commonwealth. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  29. ^ "Gabon election: Coup leader Oligui Nguema wins poll by huge margin". www.bbc.com. 13 April 2025. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  30. ^ "Gabon's junta chief wins presidency by landslide, provisional results show". France 24. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  31. ^ "Présidentielle au Gabon: avec 94,85 % des voix, Oligui Nguema confirme sa victoire". Gabon24 (in French). 18 April 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  32. ^ "The loser of Gabon's first presidential election since a 2023 military coup criticizes the result". AP News. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
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