Gabon’s coup leader Brice Nguema wins  presidential poll amid controversy

Brice Oligui Nguema, the military general who took power in Gabon’s 2023 coup, has been declared the winner of the presidential election with 90.35 percent of the vote, according to provisional results from the Ministry of Interior.

The landslide victory, which had been widely expected, formalizes Nguema’s transition from coup leader to elected president, though the electoral process has faced allegations of irregularities and lack of transparency.

Nguema received 575,222 votes, while his closest rival, former Prime Minister Alain Claude Billie-by-Nze, secured just 3.02 percent.

Opposition groups and independent observers have rejected the outcome, citing restricted media access for opposing candidates, the absence of credible international monitoring, and reports of voter intimidation in areas critical of the government.

Supporters of Nguema, however, have framed the result as a popular mandate, celebrating his leadership as a stabilizing force after years of political turmoil under ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba.

Nguema rose to power on August 30, 2023, when he led a military takeover moments after Bongo was declared the winner of a disputed third term.

The coup ended 56 years of rule by the Bongo family, which began under Omar Bongo in 1967 and continued under his son, Ali.

Initially presenting himself as a reformer committed to restoring democracy, Nguema has since faced accusations of consolidating power, suppressing dissent, and delaying elections until his control was assured.

Reactions to the election have been mixed. Some regional allies, including Chad and Burkina Faso, have congratulated Nguema, while Western nations have expressed skepticism, calling for an independent review of the results.

Domestically, his supporters credit him with bringing order after years of alleged corruption under Bongo, but critics warn that the election risks entrenching another authoritarian regime under the guise of democracy.

With his victory now official, Nguema faces pressure to demonstrate a genuine commitment to democratic governance, address Gabon’s economic challenges—including high unemployment and reliance on oil revenues—and navigate international scrutiny.

The election leaves Gabon at a crossroads, with its future hinging on whether Nguema’s rule will usher in meaningful reform or merely perpetuate the centralized power structures of the past.

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