Gabon’s Coup Leader Nguema Wins Presidency with 90% of Vote

Gabon’s transitional leader and former coup chief, Brice Oligui Nguema, has officially won the country’s presidential election by a wide margin, securing around 90 percent of the vote, according to provisional results announced by the Interior Ministry on Sunday, April 13.

Nguema, who led the military takeover that ousted longtime President Ali Bongo in 2023, faced seven other candidates in Saturday’s poll. His closest challenger, former Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, reportedly garnered just three percent of the vote.

Nguema’s victory was largely anticipated following his role in dismantling over five decades of Bongo family rule. While Bilie-By-Nze raised concerns about the transparency of the vote count, Nguema maintained that the election process was fair.

In his first international interview after the win, Nguema told Al Jazeera that he intends to restore the country’s integrity and return resources to the people. “I will give back to the people what they have given me today,” he said. “And everything that has been stolen from the people, I want to return to them.”

The new president’s sweeping win solidifies his grip on power as Gabon transitions from military rule to what many hope will be a new democratic era.