Gabon President Brice Oligui Nguema Launches New Political Party

• President Brice Oligui Nguema launched a new political party, UDB.
• The Democratic Union of Builders promotes inclusion, development, and happiness.
• Nguema won the presidential election with 95 percent of the vote.
• The party’s inaugural congress attracted thousands of supporters, including former Bongo allies.
• Nguema aims to reform Gabon’s political landscape, moving away from past practices.

New Political Party Launches Amidst Historic Change

On July 6, 2025, in a move that marks a significant shift in Gabon’s political landscape, President Brice Oligui Nguema officially launched his own political party, the Democratic Union of Builders (UDB). Nguema, who came to power following a coup that ended a long-standing 56-year reign by the Bongo family, expressed a vision for reform. His party aims to reaffirm what it calls the Gabonese social contract, in light of what they herald as a brilliant presidential victory that transitioned power from the Bongo dynasty to a new leadership paradigm.

Inaugural Congress Attracts Thousands of Supporters

The UDB, as stated during its launch, champions a motto focused on inclusion, development, and happiness. The party claims that these principles express their ambition to unite and uplift Gabon, particularly after decades dominated by the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), which loyally served the Bongo family. Nguema, who previously served as a general in the Gabonese military, gained a staggering 95 percent of the vote in the presidential elections held in April 2025, following his August 2023 coup that saw the ousting of Ali Bongo, son of former president Omar Bongo.

Commitment to Political Reform and Inclusivity

Notably, during the party’s inaugural congress, thousands gathered to show their support, many of whom were former high-ranking officials from the previous Bongo administration. This gathering signals a notable shift in political allegiance, though it remains to be seen how these former officials will be integrated into the new political framework. In Nguema’s address, he stressed his intention to avoid the pitfalls of previous political parties by promising to implement a primary system for selecting candidates. He remarked, “The country went through 50 years of politics where leaders were instrumentalised by their political party. I don’t want to indoctrinate anyone; I don’t want to create a party that instrumentalises elections.”

The launch of the Democratic Union of Builders signifies a pivotal moment in Gabon’s ongoing political transformation. With an ambitious goal to foster inclusion and reshape the social fabric of the nation, President Nguema is attempting to distance his administration from the dictatorial legacy of the Bongo family. The success of this new party will depend heavily on how it navigates its relationship with former Bongo allies and implements its reformative promises in the coming years.