Gabon’s interim President Brice Oligui Nguema will face three challengers in the presidential elections set for April 12, 2025, according to the official list published by the country’s Interior Minister on Sunday. The publication came a day after the deadline for presidential candidacies, with 19 others rejected. However, those candidates have been granted a 72-hour period to lodge an appeal with Gabon’s Constitutional Court.
Nguema, who came to power following a military coup in 2023 that ousted former President Ali Bongo Ondimba and his long-standing family rule, has been under intense speculation regarding his intentions to stay in power. His rise to the presidency marked the end of the Bongo family’s rule, which had lasted over five decades.
One of the major points of contention surrounding Nguema’s administration is the new constitution that was enacted in 2024. This constitution, which was overwhelmingly approved by the people of Gabon in a referendum, did not bar Nguema from running for office in the upcoming election, fueling speculation about his desire to remain in power. Despite military authorities’ claims that the new constitution would pave the way for democratic reforms, opposition groups continue to question the authenticity of the military-led transition.
Nguema’s primary challenger is Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze, who served as Prime Minister under Ali Bongo’s government until the coup. By Nze’s candidacy represents a potential return to the political establishment that was ousted in the coup. He is expected to appeal to voters nostalgic for the previous regime and its stability.
The second challenger is Doctor Stéphane Germain Iloko, a former member of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), which held a tight grip on Gabonese politics from 1961 until its collapse in 2023. Iloko’s candidacy signals a bid for political change, as he is seen as advocating for reforms within the system.
The third candidate, Joseph Lapensée Essigone, a lawyer and tax inspector, is also running as an independent, aiming to bring a fresh perspective to Gabon’s leadership after years of dominance by the Bongo family and the PDG.
All four candidates will run as independents, and official campaigning is set to begin on March 29, 2025. The election will be closely watched both domestically and internationally, as Gabon navigates the delicate transition from military rule to what is being presented as a return to democracy, though concerns about the military’s influence remain prevalent.
The upcoming presidential election is a critical moment in Gabon’s political landscape as the country seeks to define its future following the upheaval of the 2023 coup and the Bongo family’s long reign. Voters will decide whether Nguema’s government, which has promised reforms and democratic transition, will continue or if the country will return to a more traditional political framework represented by the opposition candidates.
