Brice Oligui Nguema Elected President of Gabon with 90.35% Vote

Brice Oligui Nguema has won the Gabon presidential election with 90.35% of the vote, solidifying his power after an August 2023 coup that ended the Bongo family’s 50-year rule. His opponent, Alain Claude Bilie By Nze, garnered only 3.02%. Nguema aims to diversify Gabon’s oil-dependent economy and has energized voter turnout to 70.40%.

Brice Oligui Nguema, the leader who orchestrated a coup in Gabon in August 2023, has been declared the winner of Saturday’s presidential election, securing 90.35% of the vote, as reported by the Central African country’s interior minister. This outcome solidifies Nguema’s authority nearly 19 months after his coup terminated over 50 years of the Bongo family’s governance in Gabon, an oil-rich nation with a population of approximately 2.5 million.

His chief opponent, Alain Claude Bilie By Nze, who served as prime minister under the ousted President Ali Bongo, received merely 3.02% of the votes. Campaigning with a cap promoting his slogan, “We Build Together,” Nguema portrayed himself as a reformist intent on dismantling the entrenched corrupt system.

Nguema has pledged to shift the economy away from its dependence on oil, aiming to bolster agriculture, industry, and tourism in a nation where about one-third of citizens live in poverty. Voter turnout for this election was reported at 70.40%, significantly exceeding the previous election’s turnout of 56.65% prior to the coup.

In the earlier election, Ali Bongo was declared the victor in what his opponents labeled a fraudulent process. The coup occurred immediately following the announcement of those results, marking a pivotal moment in Gabon’s political landscape.

Brice Oligui Nguema’s overwhelming electoral victory underscores his consolidation of power following his coup in Gabon. His commitment to economic diversification and reform presents a significant shift from previous administrations, aiming to address lingering poverty in the nation. The high voter turnout reflects an engaged electorate seeking change after years under the Bongo family rule. Nguema’s policies and leadership will be closely scrutinized as Gabon navigates this transitional period.

Original Source: www.usnews.com