Gabon Holds Its First Presidential Election After 2023 Coup
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Synopsis
Gabonese citizens participated in their first presidential election since the 2023 coup, marking a significant step towards restoring constitutional order. Transitional President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema is among the eight candidates contesting for the presidency as the nation embarks on a crucial political transition.
Key Takeaways
- Gabon holds its first presidential election post-coup.
- Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema leads as a candidate.
- Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze is his main rival.
- New constitution limits presidential terms to seven years.
- Voter turnout is crucial for the political transition.
Libreville, April 12 (NationPress) Gabonese citizens cast their votes on Saturday to select a president in the nation’s inaugural presidential election since the coup two years ago, signaling the concluding stage of the political transition and the expected restoration of constitutional governance.
Polling stations have been bustling since Saturday morning, as reported by Xinhua correspondents in Libreville, the capital city.
Transitional President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who orchestrated the coup that removed former President Ali Bongo Ondimba, is one of the eight candidates vying for the presidency.
Nguema stepped down from his military role in line with Gabon's Electoral Code to enter the race. His principal opponent is Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze, the former prime minister from the Bongo administration.
Other contenders feature previous 2023 presidential candidates Axel Stophene Ibinga Ibinga, a businessman, and Thierry Yvon Michel Ngoma, also a businessman. The sole female candidate, businesswoman Zenaba Gninga Chaning, has been a proponent of population growth and the endorsement of traditional customs such as polygamy.
The Ministry of the Interior revealed that 3,037 polling stations, comprising 2,941 within Gabon and 96 abroad, will cease operations at 6 p.m. local time (1700 GMT) on Saturday, with the possibility of extensions under electoral law. A total of 920,200 voters are registered, including over 28,000 residing overseas.
The ministry also declared that all bars would remain closed from 11:30 p.m. on Friday until midnight on Saturday, describing this decision as a measure to uphold public order and ensure a tranquil voting atmosphere during this pivotal moment in Gabon’s democratic journey.
Gabon’s new constitution, ratified in a referendum in November 2024, stipulates a seven-year presidential term, renewable only once.
A total of 48 national and international observer missions, consisting of approximately 2,450 observers, have been accredited to oversee the election, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Under the revised electoral regulations, the president is chosen through a two-round system. A candidate must secure an absolute majority of valid votes in the initial round to win outright. If no candidate meets this criterion, a runoff election will occur between the top two candidates.
