2025 Gabonese presidential election
 | This article documents a current election. Information may change rapidly as the election progresses until official results have been published. Initial news reports may be unreliable, and the last updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
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A presidential election was held in Gabon on 12 April 2025.[1] They were the first election in the country since the Bongo dynasty was overthrown in the 2023 coup after 56 years in power. Incumbent transitional president Brice Oligui Nguema ran as an Independent.
Voter turnout was 70%, the highest since 1993, the first multi-party elections.[2] The following day, Oligui was proclaimed the winner of the elections, receiving 90% of the votes, while his main opponent Alain Claude Bilie By Nze received 3%.[3][4]
Background
[edit]In August 2023, a general election was held where incumbent president Ali Bongo won a third term with 64% of the votes. The results were heavily controversial and disputed and four days later, the Gabonese Army and the Gabonese Republican Guard, led by Brigadier General Brice Oligui Nguema, who was a cousin of Bongo, led a coup d'état which ousted and arrested Bongo and his government, annulled the election results, dissolved all state institutions, and where the military assumes control of the country with Nguema as transitional president.[5][6][7]
On 13 November, the military junta authorities promised free and fair elections to be held.[8]
On 9 January 2025, Brice Oligui Nguema announced that the country will hold a presidential election on 22 March 2025. This decision follows the adoption of a new constitution in November 2024, which establishes a presidential system with term limits and stricter eligibility requirements.[9] However, on 22 January, the government announced that the election would be held on 12 April 2025.[1]
On 20 January, the Transitional Parliament approved a new electoral code, allowing members of the security forces and magistrates to run for office and reserving two seats in parliament for members of the Gabonese diaspora. It also allowed dual nationals to become candidates except in presidential elections without having to renounce their other nationality and moved the responsibility of organising elections from local governments to the interior ministry.[10]
Applications were submitted between February 27 and March 8, 2025.[11]
Constitutional referendum
[edit]On 16 November 2024, Gabon held a constitutional referendum, which was approved by 91% of the electorate.[12] As a result, the post of prime minister was abolished, the presidential terms was set for seven years, renewable once, and as well as the president was required to have at least one parent who is Gabonese and have a Gabonese spouse. The referendum is also seen by many as a key step towards the return to civilian rule after the coup.[13]
Electoral system
[edit]The President of Gabon is elected for a seven-year term via the two-round system.[14]
Candidates
[edit]Declared and accepted
[edit]- Brice Oligui Nguema, incumbent transitional president (Independent)[15][16]
- Alain Claude Bilie By Nze, former prime minister (Ensemble pour le Gabon)[16]
- Stéphane Germain Iloko, former Gabonese Democratic Party executive (Large Rassemblement Arc-en-ciel)[16]
- Joseph Lapensée Essigone, lawyer and tax inspector (Independent)[16]
- Gninga Chaning Zenaba, entrepreneur (Independent)[17]
- Axel Stophène Ibinga Ibinga, entrepreneur (Independent)[17]
- Thierry Yvon Michel Ngoma, entrepreneur (Independent)[17]
- Alain Simplice Boungoueres, civil engineer, transport economist and civil servant (Gabonese Patriotic Party)[17]
Declared and not accepted
[edit]- Jean-Rémi Yama (Parti national pour le travail et le progrès)[18][19][20]
Not allowed
[edit]Conduct
[edit]The Gabonese foreign ministry said that the African Union and the European Union will send observers to monitor the election.[22] Around 3,000 polling stations were utilised to serve around 920,000 voters, including 28,000 based overseas.[23] The Gabonese Civil Society Organizations Observation Mission said at least 94.8% of the polling stations that it observed operated under satisfactory conditions, while 98.6% of polling stations operated in a satisfactorily transparent manner.[24] According to initial reports, international observers "did not notice any major incidents".[25]
Results
[edit]Provisional results released on 13 April showed that Oligui had won 90.35% of the vote while Bilie by Nze won 3.02%, with the remainder going to six other candidates. Turnout was estimated at 70.4%.[26]
| Candidate | Party | |
|---|---|---|
| Brice Oligui Nguema | Independent | |
| Alain Claude Bilie By Nze | Ensemble pour le Gabon | |
| Joseph Lapensée Essigone | Independent | |
| Gninga Chaning Zenaba | Independent | |
| Stéphane Germain Iloko Boussengui | Large Rassemblement Arc-en-ciel | |
| Alain Simplice Boungoueres | Gabonese Patriotic Party | |
| Axel Stophène Ibinga Ibinga | Independent | |
| Thierry Yvon Michel N'Goma | Independent | |
| Total | ||
| Source: Gabon Review | ||
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Gabon announces date for Presidential election". Africanews. 2025-01-23. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
- ^ "Gabon military leader Brice Oligui Nguema wins presidential election". Al-Jazeera. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ Dzonteu, Désiré-Clitandre. "President 2025: Oligui Nguéma, elected 4th President of Gabon with 90.35%". GabonReview. Gabon Review. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ Dzonteu, Désiré-Clitandre. "President 2025: Oligui Nguéma, elected 4th President of Gabon with 90.35%". GabonReview. Gabon Review. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ "A 'coup' in Gabon: Who, what and why?". Aljazeera. 30 August 2023.
- ^ Andrews, Frank (30 August 2023). "Gabon coup attempt sees military chiefs declare election results "cancelled" and "end to current regime"". CBS News.
- ^ "Gabon coup leader Nguema sworn in as transitional head of state". Aljazeera. 4 September 2023.
- ^ Njie, Paul; Booty, Natasha (13 November 2023). "Gabon elections: Junta plans post-Bongo polls for 2025". BBC News.
- ^ "Gabon : l'élection présidentielle avancée au 22 mars ?". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2025-01-15.
- ^ "Gabon approves new electoral law seen as win for junta leader". Africanews. 2025-01-10. Retrieved 2025-01-21.
- ^ "Présidentielle au Gabon: dépôt des candidatures du 27 février au 8 mars". voaafrique.com (in French). 2025-02-26. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
- ^ "Référendum 2024 au Gabon : La nouvelle constitution approuvée avec 91,80 % du Oui". INFOS GABON (in French). 2024-11-18. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ "Gabon votes in referendum on new constitution after military coup last year". Aljazeera. 16 November 2024.
- ^ "Analyse constitution". Gabon2025 (in French). Retrieved 2025-01-20.
- ^ "Gabon: le général Brice Oligui Nguema officialise sa candidature à la présidence". Radio France International. 3 March 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Gabon's interim president to face three challengers in presidential poll". Africanews. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Who are the candidates in Gabon's post-coup presidential election?". RFI. 11 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ "Gabon: Jean-Rémy Yama annonce sa candidature à l'élection présidentielle". RFI. March 1, 2025.
- ^ "Présidentielle au Gabon: les recours de quatre candidats validés, celui de Jean-Rémy Yama rejeté". RFI. March 21, 2025.
- ^ "Présidentielle au Gabon : pourquoi le syndicaliste Jean-Rémy Yama ne sera pas candidat". JeuneAfrique.com.
- ^ a b "Le grand invité Afrique - Gabon: «Un général qui a fait un coup [d'État] n'a peur de personne», dit le président Oligui Nguema". RFI. March 25, 2025.
- ^ Banchereau, Mark (10 April 2025). "Gabon will hold its first presidential election since the 2023 military coup". AP News. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ "Voters in Gabon choose a new president in the first election since the 2023 coup". Africanews. 12 April 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Goma, Yves-Laurent; Asadu, Chinedu (13 April 2025). "Voters in Gabon await results of presidential election, with likely victory for coup leader". AP News. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ "Gabon's junta chief wins presidency by landslide, provisional results show". France24. 2025-04-13. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
- ^ "Gabon's junta chief wins presidency by landslide, provisional results show". France 24. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
| Presidential elections | |
|---|---|
| Parliamentary elections | |
| Departmental elections | |
| Local elections | |
| French elections | |
| Referendums | |
