Gabon has officially kicked off its local and legislative election process, with a national vote scheduled for September 27, 2025. The country’s Constitutional Court recently swore in members of the newly formed national election commission, reinforcing efforts to restore democratic governance following the 2023 military coup. The revision of the electoral roll will run from July 14 to August 12, aimed at updating voter information, removing ineligible voters, and allowing citizens to select their preferred polling stations. All Gabonese aged 18 and above with a Personal Identification Number (PIN) are automatically registered.
Local electoral commissions will be established by July 26 and deployed nationwide and abroad. Candidate nominations for both legislative and local offices will be open from July 27 to August 7. Authorities have emphasized their commitment to transparent, peaceful, and credible elections, encouraging citizens to actively participate in shaping the country’s Fifth Republic, a new chapter following the adoption of a revised constitution earlier this year.
Meanwhile, transitional President Brice Oligui Nguema, who took power in a military coup two years ago, has launched a new political party—the Democratic Union of Builders (UDB). The move comes months after he secured nearly 95% of the vote in Gabon’s presidential election in April, a result widely seen as controversial. Oligui’s creation of the UDB marks a clear shift toward long-term political ambition, raising questions about the future of civilian rule in Gabon. While he initially pledged to oversee a transition, the new party offers him a structured platform to entrench his leadership and contest future elections under civilian guise. Observers say the upcoming vote will be a key test of whether Gabon’s transition from military to civilian rule will be credible—or merely cosmetic.
