Gabon’s constitutional court confirmed Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema’s victory in the presidential election, securing 94.85% of the vote. This marked the first election post-coup, with a reported turnaround of 70.11%. His main competitor criticized the election’s fairness, whereas the government denied any wrongdoing.
In a significant political development, Gabon’s constitutional court declared on Friday that General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema has officially won the presidential election held on April 12, 2023. The court reported that Nguema received a staggering 58,074 votes, translating to approximately 94.85% of the total votes cast. This result reflects an increase of nearly 5% from the initial provisional results.
Oligui Nguema faced a crowded field of eight candidates, including the former Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who secured only about 3% of the vote. Remarkably, the other six candidates were unable to surpass the 1% threshold. Bilie-By-Nze has criticized Nguema, alleging that he exploited state resources during his campaign, a claim that the government has firmly denied.
Despite the tension surrounding the election, local observers reported that the election process was satisfactory across the monitored polling stations. The Constitutional Court also recorded a voter turnout of 70.11%, a reduction from the 87.21% figure cited by the Interior Ministry in its provisional report following the election.
This election marked Gabon’s first since the military coup in 2023, which had ended a political lineage that lasted over five decades. With a population of about 2.3 million, a significant portion of Gabon’s citizens live in poverty despite the nation’s oil wealth. Nguema, who previously led the Republican Guard, overthrew President Ali Bongo Ondimba nearly two years ago. He is poised to take office for a seven-year term, with his inauguration scheduled for May 3.
In summary, General Oligui Nguema’s victory in Gabon’s recent presidential election is confirmed by the constitutional court, solidifying his position following a military coup. The high voter turnout reflects a pivotal moment for Gabon as it moves past decades of one-party rule. Critics raise concerns over the legitimacy of the election process, while Nguema aims to stabilize his authority during his upcoming term in office.
Original Source: www.newsday.com
