In brief
In a remarkable turnaround for Gabon, Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema has been declared the winner of the presidential election, following provisional results showing he garnered more than 90% of the vote. Nguema, who previously led a coup in 2023, is now positioned to steer the country for the upcoming seven years. The former Prime Minister, Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who was Nguema’s main competitor, conceded defeat shortly after the announcement.
While the Interior Ministry confirmed Nguema's overwhelming victory, Gabon’s Constitutional Court is expected to make official determinations in the near future. However, skepticism surrounds the election, as several analysts have suggested that the election results were unwittingly skewed in favor of Nguema due to the country's current political atmosphere.His ascendancy marks Gabon as yet another addition to West and Central Africa's trend of military leaders clinging to power through electoral avenues. Some observers note that, in recent years, this region has witnessed a troubling pattern, with eight coups occurring over just five years. Notably, Mahamat Déby of Chad was similarly declared the winner of a presidential election after seizing control of the government in 2021.
