Libreville, Gabon – Less than a year after seizing power through a bloodless coup, Gabon’s transitional leader Brice Oligui Nguema has been declared the overwhelming presidential election winner, securing 90.35% of the vote according to provisional results. But while the official narrative celebrates a democratic turning point, many voices within Gabon and beyond question whether true change is underway or if the country has replaced one strongman with another.
This vote marked Gabon’s first national election since the August 2023 coup that ousted President Ali Bongo and ended the five-decade grip of the Bongo dynasty. Promising to restore democracy, Nguema swapped his military fatigues for civilian attire and embarked on a campaign that, by most accounts, lacked genuine competition.
Turnout was reported at 70.4%, with over 920,000 registered voters. However, the landslide margin and reports of certain polling stations yielding 100% of votes for Nguema have raised suspicion rather than celebration among critics.
“Saturday’s election was neither transparent nor free,” declared Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, the former prime minister and runner-up, who garnered only 3% of the vote. “What we witnessed was a blatant misuse of state machinery and a mockery of democratic choice.”
A Controlled Victory?
Nguema’s near-total victory and dominant presence throughout the campaign have prompted many to accuse the regime of orchestrating a more performative than participatory election. His main challengers, including Bilie-By-Nze, were notably absent from media coverage and public visibility, raising concerns about fair access and electoral freedom.
While international observers reported no major irregularities at polling stations, the electoral environment, still shaped by military influence, casts a long shadow over the vote’s legitimacy.
The Illusion of Change?
In Libreville, the mood is mixed. Some citizens expressed hope in Nguema’s message of reform. “This time, I felt something different, so I went out and voted,” said 58-year-old Olivina Migombe. “I want to believe in change.”
But others remain cautious. “If Oligui truly wants to lead, he must prove he’s not just another Bongo in disguise,” said Patrick Essono-Mve, an unemployed technician. “There is too much poverty, too many damaged roads, and too little trust.”
Despite being rich in oil, Gabon faces staggering inequality, crumbling infrastructure, and heavy foreign debt. These challenges, largely unresolved during the Bongo era, now fall into Nguema’s hands, raising the stakes for his promised “New Republic.”
Breaking or Continuing the Cycle?
Once a loyal commander in Ali Bongo’s inner circle, Nguema now tries to distance himself from that legacy. His decision to allow foreign media to observe the counting of votes and a relatively peaceful election day was seen as a positive sign. However, for a nation used to authoritarian governance disguised as electoral legitimacy, appearances are no substitute for genuine reform.
Critics argue that although the military coup was portrayed as liberation, Nguema’s significant electoral victory, absence of credible opposition, and ongoing dominance over state institutions indicate a reshuffling of power rather than its redistribution.
With a seven-year term ahead, Oligui Nguema stands at a crossroads. He can either fulfill his promises of transparency and inclusive governance or risk succumbing to the long shadow of the very regime he helped dismantle.
What’s Next for Gabon?
As the dust settles on an election praised by some and criticized by others, the real test lies: Can Brice Oligui Nguema transform from a transitional strongman into a legitimate leader of a truly democratic Gabon? Or has the nation, once again, mistaken the illusion of change for the genuine article?
