Brice Oligui Nguema Secures Presidential Victory in Gabon with 90.35% of Vote

Brice Oligui Nguema won Gabon’s presidential election with 90.35% of the votes. This outcome follows his coup in August 2023, which ended the Bongo family’s long-standing rule. His main opponent, Alain Claude Bilie By Nze, only received 3.02% of the vote. Nguema promises to diversify the economy and address poverty while voter turnout increased significantly to 70.40%.

Brice Oligui Nguema, who led a coup in Gabon in August 2023, has secured the presidency with 90.35% of the votes cast in the recent election, as reported by the interior minister. This significant victory underscores Nguema’s strong grip on power following the coup that ended over fifty years of rule by the Bongo family in Gabon, a nation of approximately 2.5 million people and a notable oil producer.

Alain Claude Bilie By Nze, the main competitor in the eight-candidate race, garnered only 3.02% of the votes. Prior to the coup, Nze served as prime minister under the ousted President Ali Bongo. Nguema campaigned under the slogan “We Build Together” and presented himself as a reformer aiming to eliminate corrupt practices prevalent in the previous administration.

Promising to diversify Gabon’s oil-dependent economy, Nguema has pledged to focus on agriculture, industry, and tourism, addressing the significant poverty affecting one-third of the population. Voter turnout for the election was reported at 70.40%, a considerable increase compared to the 56.65% participation in the August 2023 election, which saw Bongo declared the winner amid opposition claims of electoral fraud. The coup took place shortly after those results were announced.

Brice Oligui Nguema’s election to the presidency with over 90% of the votes confirms his strong hold on power in Gabon. His focus on economic diversification and tackling corruption signals a potential shift in governance after decades of Bongo family rule. The significantly increased voter turnout reflects a populace engaged in the electoral process, especially following the contentious previous election.

Original Source: www.usnews.com