Gabon’s constitutional court confirms Oligui Nguema’s victory in presidential election

Gabon’s General Oligui Nguema Wins Presidential Election

After staging a coup in 2023, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema has emerged victorious in Gabon’s recent presidential election. The country’s constitutional court confirmed his win, with Nguema securing 94.85% of the votes cast, totaling 58,074 votes.

Nguema’s margin of victory increased by almost 5% from the provisional results released immediately after the election. He defeated seven other candidates, including former Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who garnered only 3% of the votes.

Despite allegations of using state resources for his campaign, Nguema’s win has been officially recognized. Local observers have deemed the election process satisfactory in most polling stations monitored.

The election, with a turnout of 70.11%, marked a significant moment for Gabon, as it was the first since the 2023 military coup that ended a long-standing political dynasty. Over 920,000 voters participated across more than 3,000 polling stations.

With a third of Gabon’s 2.3 million population living in poverty despite its abundant oil wealth, the election was crucial for the nation’s future. Nguema, a former head of the Republican Guard, is set to be inaugurated on May 3 for a seven-year term in office.