By Ollus Ndomu
General Brice Oligui Nguema, who seized power in a 2023 coup, was sworn in Saturday as Gabon’s fourth president, marking the end of a 19-month transitional period and a return to constitutional rule in the oil-rich Central African nation.
Nguema, 50, won the April 12 presidential election with 94.85% of the vote, defeating seven other candidates, including former Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who garnered just over 3%, according to Gabon’s Constitutional Court. Voter turnout was reported at 70.11% among the approximately 920,000 registered voters.
The inauguration ceremony at the Sino-Gabonese Friendship Stadium in Libreville was attended by over 20 African heads of state, including Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Ghana’s John Mahama, The Gambia’s Adama Barrow, Senegal’s Bassirou Diomaye Faye, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi.
In his inaugural address, Nguema pledged to diversify Gabon’s oil-dependent economy, tackle high youth unemployment, reform the education system, and improve infrastructure and social services. He emphasized the need for unity and democratic renewal, stating, “I promise to serve, protect, and unite all Gabonese.”
Despite its oil wealth, Gabon faces significant challenges, including a 40% unemployment rate among young graduates and a third of its 2.3 million citizens living in poverty. Nguema’s administration has also secured support from around 10 financial institutions to restructure regional market debt and obtain new financing, aiming to tackle the country’s liquidity issues and enhance medium-term fiscal flexibility.
Legislative and local elections are scheduled for September, as the nation seeks democratic renewal and governance improvements under Nguema’s leadership.
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