Brice Oligui Nguema Declared Winner of Gabon’s Presidential Election

Brice Oligui Nguema, head of Gabon’s caretaker government, has won the presidential election with nearly 80 percent of the vote. His closest rival, Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, received approximately 3 percent. This election follows the military coup that ousted the long-standing Bongo family’s rule.

Brice Oligui Nguema, the head of the caretaker government in Gabon and the leader of the 2023 military coup, has emerged victorious in the country’s presidential election, as indicated by provisional results. Preliminary announcements revealed that Nguema secured nearly 80 percent of the vote. This election marks a significant transition for Gabon, being the first since the military coup earlier this year.

Following the counting of 90.35 percent of ballots, the results indicate that Nguema’s nearest competitor, Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, garnered approximately 3 percent of the vote, while six additional candidates failed to receive more than 1 percent. Nguema’s ascendance to leadership has been anticipated due to his pivotal role in dismantling the Bongo family’s 55-year grip on power, previously held by former president Ali Bongo.

On the day of the election, Bilie-By-Nze expressed concerns regarding possible issues during the vote counting process; however, Nguema maintained that the electoral framework was conducted in a “transparent” manner. Further details regarding the election results are expected to emerge shortly.

Brice Oligui Nguema’s decisive victory in the Gabonese presidential election reflects a turning point in the nation’s political landscape, transitioning from dynastic rule to military oversight. With a substantial majority of the vote, his leadership signals potential changes after years of authoritarian governance. The election’s integrity, as asserted by Nguema, underlines the importance of transparency in democratic processes.

Original Source: www.aljazeera.com