Gabon’s military leader, General Brice Oligui Nguema, who led the 2023 coup that ended 55 years of Bongo family rule, announced Monday that he will run for president in the April 12 election.
Oligui had initially pledged to return power to civilians after a transitional period following the ousting of President Ali Bongo Ondimba in August 2023. However, a revised electoral code, approved by the transitional parliament in January, now permits members of the military and judiciary to contest elections.
“After careful reflection and in response to your many appeals, I have decided to be a candidate in the April 12 presidential election,” Oligui said in a speech in Libreville. Turning 50 on the same day, he outlined his vision for a “Gabon rising from the ashes,” promising to address the country’s infrastructure challenges.
“I am a builder, and I need your courage and strength to build this country,” he stated under heavy rain.
Military transition and election process
To qualify as a candidate, Oligui must temporarily relinquish his general’s uniform during the election campaign, according to Infos CTRI Officiel, his official communications platform.
“At the end of the election period, he will again wear his military uniform while awaiting the results,” the platform stated, adding that if he is elected, he will not resume military attire. If defeated, he will return to the barracks.
Leading up to his announcement, Oligui made multiple public appearances, including a large military rally on Saturday and a church service on Sunday, where priests released doves in his honor.
A leader for the people?
Despite his military background, Oligui has sought to present himself as an empathetic leader. He has actively engaged with the public, including youth, distributing free tickets in December to a concert by Gabonese Ntcham music icon L’Oiseau Rare.
Candidates have until March 8 to confirm their candidacy, a process requiring a language test, medical exam, and asset declaration. Local media reports indicate that around 20 potential challengers to Oligui have already withdrawn.
Economic challenges and criticism
Oligui has vowed to tackle Gabon’s long-standing issues, including frequent power outages. On Friday, he attended the connection of two Turkish-built floating power plants to Libreville’s electrical grid.
However, critics argue that he has done little to break from the Bongo family’s decades-long rule, under whom he served for years. He has also committed to addressing Gabon’s growing national debt, which reached 70% of GDP in 2023. The country’s debt stood at 7.287 billion CFA francs ($12 billion), with 4.614 billion francs owed to international creditors, raising concerns from the International Monetary Fund.
Despite being one of Africa’s wealthiest nations per capita, Gabon struggles with widespread poverty, with one in three people living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.
Oligui’s candidacy sets the stage for a pivotal election that will determine whether Gabon remains under military-influenced rule or transitions toward civilian governance.
