Gabon Approves Coup Leader and Ex-PM Among Candidates for Presidential Vote

Gabon’s Constitutional Court has approved eight candidates for the upcoming presidential election, including interim President Brice Oligui Nguema, who came to power via a military coup. Newly ratified constitutional provisions allow him to run, raising concerns about the junta’s intention to maintain power. The election is scheduled for April 12, with significant rivals vying for prominence, including Bongo’s last prime minister as an independent candidate and the only woman candidate in the race.

Gabon’s Constitutional Court has sanctioned a slate of eight candidates, including interim President Brice Oligui Nguema, for the presidential election set for next month. Nguema, who ascended to power through a military coup in 2023, has been exempted from the usual prohibition on transitional leaders running for office due to the new constitution ratified last November. This development has raised concerns among opposition factions and political analysts regarding the potential for junta-led governance to persist.

The junta has touted the recent constitutional referendum as a pathway towards restoring democratic governance. Nguema, aged 50, overthrew the longstanding regime of Ali Bongo and his administration, marking the eighth coup recorded in West and Central Africa between 2020 and 2023. Nguema’s main contender, Alain Claude Billie By Nze, 57, Bongo’s last prime minister, is campaigning as an independent.

Other candidates endorsed by the court include Stephane Germain Iloko Boussengui, who has departed from the Gabonese Democratic Party to establish his own political faction, the “large rainbow gathering,” and tax inspector Joseph Lapensee Essigone. Additionally, Gninga Chaning Zenaba stands out as the sole female candidate in this election. The presidential election in Gabon is anticipated to take place on April 12.

The approval by Gabon’s Constitutional Court to allow interim President Brice Oligui Nguema, alongside several other candidates, to contest in the upcoming presidential election has ignited significant political discourse. Concerns regarding the implications of this decision on Gabon’s democratic prospects remain paramount, particularly with historical context regarding military coups in the region. The political landscape ahead of the April 12 election is shaping up to be contentious, featuring notable figures such as Alain Claude Billie By Nze and Gninga Chaning Zenaba among the candidates.

Original Source: www.marketscreener.com