Gabon’s Interim Leader Brice Oligui Nguema Wins Presidency in Landslide Following 2023 Coup
- Victor Nwoko
- Apr 14
- 2 min read
Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Gabon's interim president and the leader of the 2023 military coup that ended more than five decades of dynastic rule, has been elected president in a landslide victory, according to provisional results released by the country’s interior ministry. Oligui Nguema, 50, received 90.35% of the vote, defeating seven other candidates. His closest rival, former Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, garnered just 3%, Interior Minister Hermann Immongault announced.
Voter turnout was reported at 87.21%, with approximately 920,000 people registered to vote across more than 3,000 polling stations, including over 28,000 overseas voters. This election was the first since the military ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba in 2023, ending his family's political dominance that had lasted for over half a century. Seen as a pivotal moment for the oil-rich central African nation of 2.3 million, the election was closely watched, with many citizens living in poverty despite Gabon’s natural resource wealth.
Local observers reported a generally smooth electoral process. According to the Gabonese Civil Society Organizations Observation Mission, 94.8% of polling stations operated under satisfactory conditions, while the transparency of operations was deemed satisfactory in 98.6% of locations monitored. Oligui Nguema's representatives were present at 69.6% of polling stations observed, while Bilie-By-Nze's presence was recorded at just 8.2%.
Bilie-By-Nze alleged that Oligui Nguema leveraged state resources during the campaign, a claim denied by the government. In a video message recorded after voting in the north of the country, Bilie-By-Nze also raised concerns about the possibility of electoral fraud, citing fears that unused voting cards could be misused.
Oligui Nguema, formerly head of Gabon’s elite Republican Guard, seized power in a coup nearly two years ago. He has since served as interim president and now aims to consolidate his authority with a formal seven-year term. After voting in the capital, Libreville, he expressed pride in the democratic participation of citizens and their desire to “turn the page to join the new Republic.”
Public opinion on the military-led administration remains mixed. Some voters voiced disappointment in the government’s performance since the 2023 takeover. Antoine Nkili, a 27-year-old unemployed man with a master’s degree in law, said he felt the military had failed to deliver on its promises. “They promised to reform the institutions, but they haven’t. Instead, they’ve enriched themselves,” he said.
The provisional results mark a significant political shift as Oligui Nguema formally transitions from interim leader to elected president, further solidifying his role in shaping Gabon's future.
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