Gabon awaits outcome of its first presidential election after Bongo’s regime

Gabonese citizens are anxiously awaiting the results of the upcoming presidential election, set for April 12, marking the first such race since the fall of the Bongo regime in August 2023.

The campaign, which began on March 29, will run until April 11, with the election scheduled for April 12. General Brice Oligui, the head of the military junta and presidential candidate, aims to solidify his power by gaining legitimacy for the coup government that overthrew President Ali Bongo, a move condemned by the United States, France, and the African Union.

The Ministry of the Interior opened the candidacy process at the end of February, with strict conditions, including a requirement that candidates reside in Gabon for at least three years, disqualifying many opposition figures who lived abroad during Bongo’s rule.

Of the 39 candidates who registered for the presidential race, only four have been approved by the electoral commission: General Brice Oligui Anguema, former Prime Minister Alain Claude Bélé Baye Nze, tax inspector Joseph Labance Essengoune, and doctor Stéphane Germain Bosingwe.

The election is expected to be a fierce competition between General Anguema, leader of the junta, and Alain Claude Bélé Baye Nze, a former prime minister under Bongo who has formed a new political party called “Together for Gabon.” Both candidates are seen as symbols of the Bongo family’s long-standing rule, which spanned more than five decades and is accused of widespread corruption.

Despite Anguema’s strong hold on the military, his lack of a political base and accusations of corruption and drug involvement pose challenges for his campaign. Meanwhile, the country, rich in oil and a member of OPEC, continues to face widespread poverty and corruption, with citizens hopeful for a new era of transparency and equitable wealth distribution.

The World Bank projects Gabon’s economic growth will rise from 2.4% in 2023 to 2.9% in 2024, driven by infrastructure projects, increased production in oil, minerals, and timber. All candidates have pledged to diversify the economy, promote tourism, and invest in agriculture and industry.