Gabon’s military leader Brice Oligui Nguema announces presidential bid amid controversy

Gabon’s transitional leader, General Brice Oligui Nguema, has officially declared his candidacy for the upcoming April 12 presidential election, following months of speculation.

Nguema, who led the 2023 coup that ended the 55-year rule of the Bongo family, had initially pledged to restore civilian rule.

However, recent constitutional and electoral reforms have fueled concerns that the changes were tailored to secure his bid for the presidency.

Speaking in Libreville during heavy rain, Nguema told supporters he was responding to widespread calls for his leadership. « I am a builder and I need your courage, your strength, to build this country, » he declared.

His announcement follows his recent address to the military, where he acknowledged their encouragement to run and urged them to vote.

While speculation suggested he had resigned from the army, his spokesman refuted the claims, stating that Nguema would only leave the military permanently if elected.

Despite international praise for ending the Bongo dynasty, opposition groups and civil society urge him to step aside and allow a genuine democratic transition.

Gabon, rich in oil and natural resources, still faces high poverty rates, with one-third of its 2.4 million people living below the poverty line, according to the UN. The upcoming election will be a decisive moment for the country’s future.