Overview

• Gabonese citizens head to the polls on April 12, 2025, marking the first presidential election since the 2023 military coup that ended 56 years of Bongo family rule.
• General Brice Oligui Nguema, who led the coup and oversaw an 18-month transitional period, is the frontrunner among eight candidates.
• Nguema has positioned himself as a reformer promising a return to civilian governance, though critics question his ties to the previous regime and his commitment to true democracy.
• Allegations of unclear financial dealings involving Nguema have emerged, drawing parallels to the corruption associated with the Bongo era.
• The election represents a pivotal moment for Gabon, a key oil producer with a history of political instability and deep ties to French economic and military interests.