Sun Apr 13 16:08:00 UTC 2025: ## Gabon’s Coup Leader Wins Presidency in Landslide Victory
**Libreville, Gabon** – Brice Oligui Nguema, the leader of the military coup that ousted the Bongo dynasty in August 2023, has won Gabon’s presidential election in a landslide victory, securing approximately 90 percent of the vote, according to provisional results released by the Interior Ministry. His main rival, Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, received only about three percent of the vote.
Nguema, in his first international interview with Al Jazeera following the win, vowed to “restore dignity to the Gabonese people,” promising to return what he claims was stolen from them. He also highlighted the country’s improved international relations under his leadership, citing increased diplomatic engagement with major global powers. In the past 19 months, he stated that Gabon has welcomed 20 ambassadors and established new embassies, including those from the UK and India.
Despite the apparent success, the election outcome has not quelled concerns about genuine change. Nguema, formerly head of the Republican Guard under former President Ali Bongo, and his rival both held prominent positions within the Bongo regime, leading many to question whether this represents a true break from the past. The Bongo family’s 55-year rule was characterized by a system of patronage that concentrated wealth and power in the hands of a few, leaving much of the population struggling with poverty and unemployment. The World Bank reports that nearly 40 percent of young people are unemployed, and around a third of the population lives below the poverty line.
Gabon, a resource-rich nation with significant reserves of oil, gold, and manganese, faces substantial challenges. The country’s $3 billion international debt and the need to address issues such as food shortages, unemployment, and equitable distribution of its natural wealth remain major concerns for the new president.
While voter turnout was significantly higher than in the disputed August 2023 election (70.4 percent versus 56.65 percent), international observers and investors remain cautious, awaiting concrete evidence of genuine reform and a commitment to democratic principles. The World Bank reports a modest economic growth of 2.9 percent in 2024, but Nguema’s seven-year mandate will be closely scrutinized for its ability to deliver lasting change and break the cycle of concentrated power in Gabon.
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