Gabon’s military leader, General Brice Oligui Nguema, has officially announced his candidacy for the country’s presidential election scheduled for April 12, 2024. The declaration follows months of speculation about his political ambitions after he seized power in a coup that ended the 55-year rule of the Bongo family.
Nguema, who took over in August 2023 after deposing President Ali Bongo, initially pledged to oversee a transition to civilian rule. However, recent changes to Gabon’s constitution and electoral laws have led critics to argue that the reforms were crafted to facilitate his bid for the presidency.
Addressing supporters in the capital, Libreville, during a heavy downpour on Monday, the 50-year-old leader expressed his resolve to transform the resource-rich nation. “I am a builder, and I need your courage, your strength, to build this country,” Nguema stated. He also emphasized that his decision came after deep reflection and in response to calls from the Gabonese people.
His candidacy has sparked mixed reactions across the country. While some citizens and political figures view him as a necessary leader for continued stability, others, including opposition groups and civil society organizations, insist he should fulfill his initial promise of transferring power to civilians.
Over the weekend, Nguema addressed the military, acknowledging their calls for him to run and encouraging them to support him at the polls. A Facebook page linked to his administration clarified that while he must temporarily step away from military duties to contest, he will only leave the army permanently if he wins. Otherwise, he will return to the barracks.
Nguema’s rise to power ended the decades-long dominance of the Bongo family. Ali Bongo had ruled for 14 years after succeeding his father, Omar Bongo, who led Gabon for 41 years. Despite being an oil-rich nation with vast forests, a third of Gabon’s 2.4 million people live below the poverty line, according to UN reports.
As the election approaches, the country remains divided on Nguema’s leadership. While regional leaders, including Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, have expressed support for him, many Gabonese citizens continue to demand a transparent democratic process.
