Since ending the 56-year reign of the Bongo family rule over the West African state of Gabon, Brice Oligui Nguema, has held power under an authoritarian rule.
In light of this, the country’s first presidential election in two years will take place on Saturday, as Nguema, who vowed to return power to civilians, intends to make good on said promise.
As reported by Reuters, Nguema would be going up against Bongo’s former prime minister Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who under his own movement, “Together for Gabon”, has distanced himself from the Bongo dynastic rule.
However, given his advantages as the incumbent and his popularity as the man who put a stop to Ali Bongo’s unpopular regime, Nguema is projected to win.
Political observers have also pointed out that Nguema maintains a firm grip on power, with supporters occupying the senate, national parliament, and constitutional court.
To add to his cache Nguema seems to always touch on the idea that Gabon is rising “from the ashes” and he is the one to “build this nation.”
This sentiment has resonated with the country of about 2.5 million people, majority of whom see him as a step up from the former adminstration.
According to the World Bank, Nguema’s reign as leader has seen the country’s economy grow from 2.4% to 2.9%, driven in part by infrastructure projects implemented by the transitional government and increased production of commodities such as oil, manganese, and timber.
Gabon’s political history
For many years, the Bongo family and a small political elite lived in luxury financed by oil while the majority of people lived in poverty.
Ali Bongo Ondimba (64) had led the oil-rich country since 2009, succeeding his father, who had been in power for over 40 years.
However, on the 30th of August, 2023, minutes after the state electoral body certified President Ali Bongo had won a third term, a group of prominent Gabonese military leaders appeared on national television early Wednesday and said that they had taken power.
They disbanded state institutions such as the Senate, National Assembly, and Constitutional Court. They then said that Bongo was under home arrest.
