Brice Oligui Nguema, the transitional leader of Gabon and the military figure behind the 2023 coup, has emerged victorious in the country’s presidential election with an overwhelming 90.35% of the vote, according to preliminary figures released by the Interior Ministry.
Oligui Nguema, who led the ousting of long-time president Ali Bongo Ondimba in August 2023, cast his ballot on April 12, 2025, at the Centre Urban Pilot School in Libreville. The election, which was seen as a pivotal moment in Gabon’s political landscape, recorded a voter turnout of 70.4%.
His nearest rival, Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze, secured only 3.02% of the vote, with the other six candidates each receiving less than 1%. The results position Oligui Nguema to lead the nation for a seven-year term, which may be renewed once, marking a return to constitutional governance following nearly two years of military-led transition.
This election is the first since the military coup brought an end to the Bongo family’s five-decade hold on power. Initially, Oligui Nguema promised a swift return to civilian rule but later announced his candidacy in March after formally stepping back from his military role. He campaigned on the promise of national unity and institutional reform.
An estimated 920,000 citizens were registered to vote, including over 28,000 living abroad. Despite Gabon’s vast oil reserves, nearly one-third of its 2.3 million population continues to live in poverty—making economic recovery and good governance top priorities for the next administration.
Election monitors from civil society groups reported generally smooth operations, with 94.8% of polling stations operating under satisfactory conditions and 98.6% of voting processes meeting transparency standards. However, the presence of candidate representatives varied significantly. Oligui Nguema’s observers were present in about 70% of the polling stations surveyed, while Bilie By Nze’s team was represented in only 8.2%.
Oligui Nguema, 50, previously headed Gabon’s Republican Guard, an elite military unit tasked with protecting the presidency. His leadership during the transition period was marked by pledges of reform, including restructuring state institutions and organizing free and fair elections. Now, with a decisive mandate, he faces the challenge of fulfilling those promises while addressing the socio-economic hardships facing many Gabonese citizens.
