Gabon sets April 12 as election date to end military rule
Gabon coup leader General Brice Oligui Nguema is sworn in as interim president during his swearing-in ceremony, in Libreville, Gabon on September 4, 2023.
Gabon will hold presidential elections on April 12, bringing an end to the transitional military rule that has been in place in the country since the August 30, 2023 coup.
The council of ministers confirmed the date of the vote after a meeting chaired by the military ruler, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema in Libreville on Wednesday.
It could signal the country’s return to the African Union, which was suspended over the coup about 18 months ago. Coups and other unconstitutional changes in government are illegal under the African Union policy since 2005. Mali, Sudan, Niger, Burkina Faso and Guinea are the other countries still suspended from AU activities for violating this policy.
In Gabon, however, the plan for elections signals a return to civilian rule, but not necessarily the end for the military ruler, who could still transition to a civilian mandate.
"Under the terms of this decree, the electoral college is convened for Saturday, April 12, 2025," the government said in a statement at the end of the meeting. Voting will take place from 7am to 6pm local time (GMT+1).
The ministers also approved the creation of an independent agency to manage the elections and referendums, the statement said.
The nine-member team has been given with the crucial task of overseeing the preparation and management of the elections to ensure strict compliance with the electoral code.
The announcement comes after the country’s parliament adopted a new electoral code during an extraordinary session from January 10 to 20. The new legislation sets out the modalities for the vote.
In November last year, the Gabonese voted ‘yes’ to a referendum on a new constitution that bars transitional leaders from running for the presidency, although a window was provided for Nguema to run. The junta leader has, however, not publicly declared his intensions to transition to a civilian leader.
Nguema initially pledged to organise “free, fair, transparent and credible elections” in August 2025. Biometric voter registration is underway in the country. Launched on January 2, it is expected to end on January 31, adding to the 850,000 names currently in the electoral database.
In his New Year’s message for 2025, Nguema called on Gabonese, especially those who have just reached the voting age of 18, to turn out massively and register for the elections, which he said would be an opportunity for them to decide the country’s future.