General Brice Oligui Nguema, who seized power in a military coup last year, has been declared the winner of Gabon’s presidential election with a reported landslide victory, according to provisional results announced by the Interior Ministry on Sunday, Al Jazeera reports.
The ministry stated that Nguema secured approximately 90% of the vote in Saturday’s election. His primary challenger, Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, garnered only about 3% of the vote, based on initial results.
Nguema, who spearheaded the ousting of the Bongo family after 55 years of their dynastic rule, was widely anticipated to win the eight-candidate race. The coup occurred shortly after the previous election results were announced, triggering international condemnation.
On election day, Bilie-By-Nze raised concerns about “potential” issues during the vote counting process. However, Nguema maintained that the electoral process was “transparent.”
Gabon, a country of approximately 2.2 million people located on the Atlantic coast of West-Central Africa, is rich in natural resources, including oil, gold, and manganese. It is also a part of the crucial Congo Basin rainforest ecosystem.
Despite these resources, nearly 40% of young people in Gabon remain unemployed, according to World Bank data from 2024. Nguema, who previously headed the Republican Guard under former President Ali Bongo, campaigned on a platform of reform.
Facing international scrutiny and burdened with $3 billion in international debt, Gabon is under pressure to demonstrate its ability to move forward and establish democratic legitimacy. The legitimacy of the recent election will be crucial to gaining international support.
The World Bank reports that Gabon’s economy grew by 2.9% in 2024, an increase from 2.4% the previous year. This growth is largely attributed to infrastructure development and increased production of oil, timber, and manganese.
The latest news in your social feeds
Subscribe to our social media platforms to stay tuned