Brice Oligui Nguema Elected Gabon President with 90.35% of Votes

Brice Oligui Nguema has been elected president of Gabon with 90.35% of the vote, solidifying his authority after deposing the Bongo family. His main opponent, Alain Claude Bilie By Nze, received only 3.02%. Nguema aims to diversify the economy and combat corruption, with a voter turnout of 70.40% mirroring public demand for change.

Brice Oligui Nguema, who orchestrated a coup in Gabon in August 2023, has been elected president after securing 90.35% of the votes in the recent election, as reported by the interior minister. This significant victory reinforces Nguema’s authority, nearly twenty months after he ended the Bongo family’s over fifty-year rule in Gabon, a nation with a population of approximately 2.5 million and a strong oil sector.

Alain Claude Bilie By Nze, Nguema’s primary competitor and former prime minister under Ali Bongo, garnered only 3.02% of the votes. Nguema campaigned under the motto “We Build Together,” portraying himself as an advocate for change and a reformer intent on dismantling the previous administration’s corruption.

In his plans, Nguema has expressed a commitment to diversify Gabon’s economy, traditionally dependent on oil, aiming to enhance agriculture, industry, and tourism sectors in a country where one-third of the citizens live in poverty. The voter turnout for the election was notably high at 70.40%, exceeding the 56.65% participation observed in the August 2023 vote that ignited the coup against the Bongo regime.

The 2023 election, which saw Bongo declared the winner in what many termed a fraudulent process, was followed by the coup shortly after the results were released. The influx of votes in this election underscores a shift in the political landscape and a desire for change among the Gabonese populace.

In summary, Brice Oligui Nguema’s election as president with 90.35% of the vote marks a decisive moment in Gabon’s political evolution following the recent coup. His focus on economic diversification and the battle against corruption resonates with the electorate, particularly in a nation facing significant poverty. The high voter turnout reflects an engaged populace eager for transformation after decades of Bongo family rule.

Original Source: www.usnews.com