Sat Apr 12 11:21:33 UTC 2025: ## Gabon Holds Presidential Election Amid High Stakes and Long Queues
**Libreville, Gabon** – Gabon held its presidential election today, with thousands of voters queuing at polling stations across the country. The election marks the first since the military coup in 2023, led by current transitional president, Brice Oligui Nguema, who is seeking to solidify his power. Polls opened at 7am local time and will remain open until 6pm. Results are expected within two weeks.
Nearly one million Gabonese are registered to vote in the election, a significant portion of the nation’s 2.3 million population. While many voters expressed hope, Al Jazeera reports a sense of “hope and fear” among the electorate. Nguema, who spearheaded the end of the Bongo family’s 55-year rule, is leading in opinion polls but faces criticism for failing to distance himself fully from the alleged corruption of the previous regime.
Nguema, campaigning on a platform of change, ditched his military uniform and predicted a “historic victory.” His main opponent, Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze, a former prime minister under Ali Bongo, positions himself as a candidate for a complete break from the past, accusing Nguema of representing continuity.
The election takes place against a backdrop of significant socio-economic challenges: high unemployment, frequent power and water shortages, inadequate infrastructure, and substantial government debt (projected to reach 80% of GDP this year). The winner will face the immense task of addressing these issues and meeting the high expectations of a population where a third lives below the poverty line, despite the country’s significant oil wealth. The outcome of this election will determine the future direction of Gabon and its ability to overcome its deep-seated problems.
First Piper 