Libreville [Gabon], April 14 (ANI): Gabon’s military leader, Brice Oligui Nguema, has claimed victory in the country’s presidential election, securing around 90% of the vote, according to provisional results announced by Gabon’s Interior Ministry. The results come after Nguema, who led a military coup in 2023, faced seven other candidates, including his main rival Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who garnered just about 3% of the vote.
Nguema’s victory was widely anticipated, with many expecting him to win the election in a landslide. On election day, Bilie-By-Nze raised concerns about potential issues during the vote count, but Nguema insisted that the electoral process had been “transparent.”
After his win, Nguema pledged to “restore dignity to the Gabonese people” and vowed to return everything that had been “stolen from the people.” He highlighted the country’s diplomatic successes during his time in power, citing Gabon’s improved international standing and engagement with major global powers like France, Russia, and the US. He also pointed out the recent diplomatic achievements, including the arrival of 20 ambassadors, the opening of new embassies, and upcoming embassies from Serbia and the United Arab Emirates.
Nguema, a former head of Gabon’s Republican Guard under the presidency of Ali Bongo, campaigned as a reformer. Promising to tackle corruption, diversify Gabon’s economy, and boost key sectors like agriculture, tourism, and industry, he emphasized that his administration had achieved significant progress in just 19 months.
Despite the promises of change, many remain skeptical about the extent of real transformation, especially given the country’s challenges, with about one-third of the population still living below the poverty line. Voter turnout for the election was 70.4%, a significant increase from the 56.65% turnout during the disputed August 2023 election, which led to Bongo’s re-election before the military coup.
Nguema has been elected for a seven-year term, but questions about the future of democracy and governance under his leadership persist.
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