Voters in Gabon are set to select their subsequent president on Saturday, and on paper they’ve loads of choices: anti-French firebrands, a common who staged a coup, a tax inspector and a feminine candidate on this oil-rich Central African nation.
However most candidates and consultants agree that the election is perhaps a accomplished deal. They are saying the race has been rigged in favor of Brice Oligui Nguema, the final who staged a coup in 2023 and has ignored his early guarantees handy energy over to a civilian.
“It isn’t a degree taking part in discipline to start with,” stated Joseph Siegle, director of analysis on the Africa Middle for Strategic Research, a Washington-based group that’s a part of the U.S. Division of Protection.
Gabon is a resource-rich nation of two.5 million that was lengthy dominated by one household. Though wealthier than different nations in sub-Saharan Africa, unemployment is widespread and poverty is excessive, making these key points for voters.
Here’s what to know in regards to the presidential contest.
Who’re the primary contenders?
A 50-year-old common who swapped his uniform for denims, Jordan sneakers and Michael Jackson’s dance strikes on the marketing campaign path, Mr. Nguema is extensively tipped to win.
Mr. Nguema served as an aide-de-camp to Gabon’s long-ruling autocrat, Omar Bongo, and was head of the Republican Guard beneath his son, Ali Bongo Ondimba, who was deposed in 2023.
With that coup, Mr. Nguema ended the run of one among Africa’s longest-ruling households. Omar Bongo held energy for 41 years, and his son held workplace for 14.
The coup was the most recent of 9 army takeovers which have shaken West and Central Africa since 2020.
However Mr. Nguema has rebranded himself as a traditional candidate within the election, with the marketing campaign slogan “It’s good,” or “C’BON” in French, a play on his initials. He has promised to construct massive infrastructure initiatives, together with a brand new airport, calling himself “Brice the Builder.”
He has additionally vowed to protect ties with France, the previous colonial energy, which has recently been ordered to withdraw troops from several African countries. Some 350 French troops are in Gabon, however Mr. Nguema has said, “I’m not chasing anybody out.”
Paul Modoss, a 35-year-old entrepreneur, stated on Friday that he would vote for Mr. Nguema as a result of he had united the nation and embodied renewal. “You’ll be able to’t name President Brice Oligui Nguema a dictator,” he stated. “A dictator doesn’t return energy to the folks by the poll field.”
His most critical opponent is Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who was Mr. Bongo’s prime minister.
Mr. Bilie-By-Nze, 57, has vowed to interrupt with Gabon’s pre-coup political system, dismantle its community and cut back French affect, although he lengthy operated inside that system.
He has additionally known as Mr. Nguema’s potential election a menace to democracy and stated he needs to diversify Gabon’s financial system and cut back its dependence on oil revenues.
Lauréa Mamboundou, a 26-year-old legislation pupil, stated she would vote for Mr. Bilie-By-Nze for his political expertise.
“He’s probably the most competent candidate at the moment, but additionally the one who could be the best to sanction with our votes ought to he ever betray the folks’s belief,” she stated. “It is a assure towards the drift all of us concern.”
What are the primary points?
Gabon is wealthy in mineral assets. It holds 1 / 4 of the world’s reserves of manganese, a mineral used to supply metal. However its financial system stays overly depending on oil, which accounts for 38 p.c of Gabon’s gross home product.
The nation is among the many world’s most corrupt nations, in line with the watchdog Transparency International. Over 40 p.c of younger folks in Gabon are unemployed. And a 3rd of its 2.5 million folks reside on lower than $5.50 a day, in line with the World Financial institution.
Underneath Mr. Nguema’s management, the interim authorities adopted a brand new Structure that enables members of the army to run for workplace. It additionally limits a president to 2 seven-year phrases.
Mr. Siegel stated the final had borrowed from the playbook of one other Central African nation, Chad, whose chief seized energy when his father was killed in 2021, and who was later declared winner in an election.
Mr. Bilie-By-Nze stated Mr. Nguema had flouted electoral guidelines by utilizing state funds to finance his marketing campaign, whereas different candidate obtained no such state assist. “The junta’s chief has tailor-made a Structure and an electoral legislation to his personal must confiscate energy,” Mr. Bilie-By-Nze stated in a press release.
A spokesman for Mr. Nguema declined to remark.
A area stuffed with growing old leaders
A number of Central African nations are dominated by authoritarian leaders, together with Africa’s prime three longest-serving presidents. Two are Gabon’s neighbors: the president of Cameroon has been in energy for 42 years and the president of the Republic of Congo has held workplace for 38 years.
In Gabon, the 2 main candidates have an extended historical past with the Bongo household however have tried to distance themselves from it. Every has accused the opposite of being the candidate of the outdated regime.
When will the outcomes be introduced?
About 860,000 individuals are anticipated to go to the polls on Saturday. The outcomes are anticipated to be introduced earlier than April 16.
Yann Leyimangoye contributed reporting from Libreville, Gabon.
