Gabon's military leader, Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who currently serves as interim president, has announced his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election scheduled for April 12. Nguema came to power after leading a military coup in 2023 that ousted former President Ali Bongo Ondimba, amid accusations of mismanagement and corruption.
In a speech to his supporters in the capital city of Libreville, Nguema expressed his decision to run for president in response to numerous appeals from the public. Following the coup, Nguema was appointed as the president of a transitional committee to lead the country.
The announcement of Nguema's candidacy follows the recent adoption of a new electoral code by Gabon's parliament, which outlines the rules and conditions for conducting elections in the country. The legislation, passed last month, allows military personnel to participate as candidates in political elections, enabling Nguema to run for his first presidential term.
Under Gabon's constitution, which was ratified in a referendum in November, the presidential term is set at seven years and can be renewed once. Bongo, the former president, had served two terms since assuming office in 2009 after the passing of his father, who had ruled the country for over four decades.
Gabon, a former French colony and a member of OPEC, possesses significant oil reserves. However, the country faces challenges related to income inequality, with a large portion of its population experiencing unemployment. In 2020, nearly 40% of Gabonese individuals aged 15 to 24 were without employment, according to data from the World Bank. The country's oil export revenue was reported at $6 billion in 2022, as per the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
