2025 Gabonese general election

Last updated

2025 Gabonese general election
Flag of Gabon.svg
  2023 12 April 20252032 
  Brice Oligui Nguema in 2024 (cropped).jpg Alain Claude Bilie By Nze 2023.jpg
Nominee Brice Oligui Nguema Alain Claude Bilie By Nze
Party Independent EPG

  Blank.svg Blank.svg
Nominee Stéphane Germain Iloko Joseph Lapensée Essigone
Party LRA Independent

President before election

Brice Oligui Nguema (acting)
Military

Elected President

TBD

General elections were held in Gabon on 12 April 2025. [1] They were the first elections in the country since the Bongo dynasty was overthrown in the 2023 coup after 56 years in power.

Contents

Background

In August 2023, a general election was held where incumbent president Ali Bongo won a third term with 64% of the votes. The results were heavily controversial and disputed and four days later, the Gabonese Army and the Gabonese Republican Guard, led by Brigadier General Brice Oligui Nguema, who was a cousin of Bongo, led a coup d'état which ousted and arrested Bongo and his government, annulled the election results, dissolved all state institutions, and where the military assumes control of the country with Nguema as transitional president. [2] [3] [4]

On 13 November, the military junta authorities promised free and fair elections to be held. [5]

On 9 January 2025, Brice Oligui Nguema announced that the country will hold a presidential election on 22 March 2025. This decision follows the adoption of a new constitution in November 2024, which establishes a presidential system with term limits and stricter eligibility requirements. [6] However, on 22 January, the government announced that the election would be held on 12 April 2025. [1]

On 20 January, the Transitional Parliament approved a new electoral code, allowing members of the security forces and magistrates to run for office and reserving two seats in parliament for members of the Gabonese diaspora. It also allowed dual nationals to become candidates except in presidential elections without having to renounce their other nationality and moved the responsibility of organising elections from local governments to the interior ministry. [7]

Applications were submitted between February 27 and March 8, 2025. [8]

Constitutional referendum

On 16 November 2024, Gabon held a constitutional referendum, which was approved by 91% of the electorate. [9] As a result, the post of prime minister was abolished, the presidential terms was set for seven years, renewable once, and as well as the president was required to have at least one parent who is Gabonese and have a Gabonese spouse. The referendum is also seen by many as a key step towards return to civilian rule after the coup. [10]

Electoral system

The President of Gabon is elected for a seven-year term via the two-round system. [11] The 143 seats in the National Assembly are elected in single-member constituencies using the two-round system. The voting age in Gabon is 21, and voting is compulsory; non-participants may be fined. [12]

Candidates

Declared and accepted

Declared and not accepted

Not allowed

Conduct

The Gabonese foreign ministry said that the African Union and the European Union will send observers to monitor the election. [19] Around 3,000 polling stations were utilised to serve around 920,000 voters, including 28,000 based overseas. [20]

References

  1. 1 2 "Gabon announces date for Presidential election". Africanews. 2025-01-23. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  2. "A 'coup' in Gabon: Who, what and why?". Aljazeera. 30 August 2023.
  3. Andrews, Frank (30 August 2023). "Gabon coup attempt sees military chiefs declare election results "cancelled" and "end to current regime"". CBS News.
  4. "Gabon coup leader Nguema sworn in as transitional head of state". Aljazeera. 4 September 2023.
  5. Njie, Paul; Booty, Natasha (13 November 2023). "Gabon elections: Junta plans post-Bongo polls for 2025". BBC News.
  6. "Gabon : l'élection présidentielle avancée au 22 mars ?". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2025-01-15.
  7. "Gabon approves new electoral law seen as win for junta leader". Africanews. 2025-01-10. Retrieved 2025-01-21.
  8. "Présidentielle au Gabon: dépôt des candidatures du 27 février au 8 mars". voaafrique.com (in French). 2025-02-26. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  9. "Référendum 2024 au Gabon : La nouvelle constitution approuvée avec 91,80 % du Oui". INFOS GABON (in French). 2024-11-18. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
  10. "Gabon votes in referendum on new constitution after military coup last year". Aljazeera. 16 November 2024.
  11. "Analyse constitution". Gabon2025 (in French). Retrieved 2025-01-20.
  12. "Elections: Gabonese Presidency 2016 General". IFES Election Guide. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  13. "Gabon: le général Brice Oligui Nguema officialise sa candidature à la présidence". Radio France International. 3 March 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Gabon's interim president to face three challengers in presidential poll". Africanews. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  15. "Gabon: Jean-Rémy Yama annonce sa candidature à l'élection présidentielle". RFI. March 1, 2025.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 "Présidentielle au Gabon: les recours de quatre candidats validés, celui de Jean-Rémy Yama rejeté". RFI. March 21, 2025.
  17. "Présidentielle au Gabon : pourquoi le syndicaliste Jean-Rémy Yama ne sera pas candidat - Jeune Afrique.com". JeuneAfrique.com.
  18. 1 2 "Le grand invité Afrique - Gabon: «Un général qui a fait un coup [d'État] n'a peur de personne», dit le président Oligui Nguema". RFI. March 25, 2025.
  19. Banchereau, Mark (10 April 2025). "Gabon will hold its first presidential election since the 2023 military coup". AP News. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  20. "Voters in Gabon choose a new president in first election since the 2023 coup". Africanews. 12 April 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2025.