Gabonese citizens are set to vote in a landmark presidential election on Saturday, ending 19 months of military-led transition that began with the ousting of President Ali Bongo in August 2023. The vote is seen as a turning point for the oil-rich Central African nation, which has grappled with mounting economic pressures and demands for political reform.
The election follows the abrupt end of the Bongo family’s 55-year political dynasty, after General Brice Oligui Nguema, now transitional president, led a coup citing concerns over governance and electoral integrity.
Economic Realities Behind the Vote
Despite its natural wealth—spanning oil, timber, and manganese—Gabon’s economy has suffered under declining global crude prices. Once a pillar of national income, oil has shrunk in its contribution to GDP, while public debt surged to 73.3% of GDP last year and is expected to reach 80% in 2025.
The World Bank reports that average income per capita has halved in five decades. Today, over one-third of Gabon’s 2.3 million people live on less than $2.15 per day. With decaying infrastructure and widespread unemployment, voters are demanding leadership capable of revitalizing the economy and delivering basic services.
Who’s on the Ballot?
Brice Oligui Nguema: The Transitional Leader Seeking a Mandate
Leading the list of presidential hopefuls is Brice Oligui Nguema, the general who led the military coup that deposed long-time president Ali Bongo on August 30, 2023. In doing so, he ended over five decades of dynastic rule by the Bongo family.
Now 50 years old, Nguema is positioning himself as the frontrunner. Declaring that his campaign will mark a “historic victory,” he has leveraged state resources and a well-financed campaign infrastructure to bolster his visibility. According to political analyst Lysiane Neyer Kenga, his campaign adopts elements of U.S.-style political marketing—flashy rallies, branded merchandise, and social media trends—which she says resemble a growing personality cult.
Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze: A Former Insider Seeking Change
Another prominent contender is Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who briefly served as Prime Minister under the ousted Ali Bongo regime. Despite his previous association with the former administration, Bilie-By-Nze has distanced himself from the Bongo political legacy, describing himself as a proponent of a “clean break.”
Touting himself as the primary civilian challenger to the transitional military leadership, Bilie-By-Nze has focused on direct voter engagement, conducting door-to-door outreach in economically marginalized communities. He argues that his grassroots approach reflects a genuine commitment to change.
Zenaba Gninga Chaning: Championing Youth and Women in Politics
Zenaba Gninga Chaning entered the race early, becoming the first official candidate on February 7. At 36, she is the youngest aspirant in the field and the only female contender. A serial entrepreneur, she has launched businesses in Libreville across real estate, beauty, and event management.
Her campaign centers on empowering young entrepreneurs and encouraging private sector growth. Chaning has positioned herself as a voice for innovation and female representation in a political landscape long dominated by older male elites.
Axel Stophène Ibinga Ibinga: Prioritizing Business and Job Creation
Also emphasizing economic renewal is Axel Stophène Ibinga Ibinga, a 44-year-old businessman who leads Ax Capital Investment Gabon. Having previously campaigned in the aborted 2023 elections, Ibinga believes the transitional government has failed to make meaningful progress since the coup.
His platform focuses on stimulating entrepreneurship and creating sustainable employment opportunities, especially for Gabon’s growing youth population.
Stéphane Iloko Boussengui: A Former Party Spokesman with Independent Aspirations
At 63, Stéphane Iloko Boussengui brings both political experience and controversy. Once a spokesperson for the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party, he exited the party following the 2023 coup and later co-founded the Together for Gabon party alongside Bilie-By-Nze.
Choosing to run independently, Boussengui has faced accusations of maintaining covert ties with the transitional government. Nonetheless, he has promised sweeping constitutional reforms, including discarding the charter established under the current transitional regime.
Thierry Yvon Michel Ngoma: Nationalist Agenda and Social Services Reform
Returning to the race is Thierry Yvon Michel Ngoma, a 46-year-old entrepreneur who previously ran in the 2023 elections. He advocates a nationalist platform, calling for Gabon’s withdrawal from the CFA franc currency union as part of a broader push for economic sovereignty.
Ngoma has also pledged to make basic public services—such as healthcare, water, and electricity—freely accessible to all citizens, presenting himself as a candidate focused on social welfare and national dignity.
Alain Simplice Boungoueres: Technocrat with a Vision for Financial Reform
Civil engineer and economist Alain Simplice Boungoueres, 57, is proposing the creation of a Sovereign National Pardon Fund with a 40 billion CFA franc endowment. Formerly affiliated with the Gabonese Democratic Party, he left the party before the cancelled 2023 elections to pursue his independent bid.
Boungoueres emphasizes technocratic solutions to national problems, drawing from his background in public works and transport policy.
Joseph Lapensee Essingone: The Quiet Candidate Focused on Unity and Equity
Among the least known candidates is 53-year-old Joseph Lapensee Essingone, a lawyer and tax inspector with a professional history in France. He sees his outsider status as an advantage, branding himself as a symbol of unity and fresh thinking in Gabonese politics.
With expertise in public finance and legal reform, his campaign message revolves around social justice, institutional transparency, and economic recovery.
A Crossroads for Gabon
With a crowded field of candidates, Gabon faces a pivotal election that could redefine its political and economic trajectory. Citizens will be weighing promises of reform, economic revival, and institutional change against a backdrop of growing debt, social hardship, and lingering questions about the military’s role in governance.
Saturday’s vote will not only determine Gabon’s next president—it could shape the country’s democratic future.