Faith Nyasuguta
General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema was officially sworn in as Gabon’s new president this weekend after securing a dominant win in the April 12 election. Nguema, 50, captured 94.85% of the vote, marking the formal end of Gabon’s transitional period following the 2023 coup that removed President Ali Bongo Ondimba from power.
The final election results, announced by the Constitutional Court, confirmed Nguema’s resounding victory with 58,074 votes. He defeated seven other candidates, including outgoing Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who finished a distant third with just 3% of the vote. None of the other six candidates received more than 1%. Voter turnout stood at 70.11%, with more than 920,000 registered voters, including over 28,000 foreigners, casting their ballots across more than 3,000 polling stations.
WNguema, a former head of Gabon’s elite Republican Guard and cousin to the ousted Bongo, led the military coup nearly two years ago. Soldiers declared him the head of a transitional committee tasked with guiding the country toward democratic elections. His swift consolidation of power and pledge to clean up corruption won him broad support across the Central African nation.
The inauguration took place at Angondje Stadium in Libreville and was attended by a number of African leaders. Notably present were President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda. Both leaders have been involved in recent peace talks aimed at resolving tensions in eastern Congo, where Rwandan-backed rebels have clashed with Congolese forces.
In his inaugural speech, Nguema declared, “Today we celebrate democratic renewal. I promise to serve, protect, and unite all Gabonese. That is the meaning of my oath.” He pledged to open the country to foreign investors and pursue bold reforms to tackle long-standing issues.
Nguema’s campaign focused on addressing youth unemployment, poor infrastructure, and the overwhelming dependence on oil. “We will diversify our economy through the transformation of our raw materials,” he said. Plans include boosting the manufacturing sector, developing agriculture, and improving access to clean water and electricity across rural areas.
He also vowed to reform the education and healthcare systems, build roads to better connect regional provinces, and create jobs, especially for young graduates struggling to find employment. Despite Gabon’s oil wealth, nearly one-third of its 2.3 million people live in poverty, and basic social services remain underdeveloped.
For many, Nguema represents a break from the past. His presidency brings hope of a new era in Gabon, one rooted in transparency, development, and inclusion.
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