Gen Brice Oligui Nguema has been handed a seven-year mandate by an voters relieved that the Bongo period is now previous [AFP]
Gabon’s navy chief Gen Brice Oligui Nguema – who in 2023 led a coup that ended a 60-year dynasty – has gained Saturday’s presidential election with greater than 90% of the vote, provisional outcomes present.
Forward of the vote, critics argued that the brand new structure and electoral code have been designed to present Nguema a snug pathway to the highest job.
Some opposition heavyweights who might have posed a severe political problem have been excluded from the race.
His election victory consolidates his grip on energy, practically two years after he masterminded the demise of President Ali Bongo, whose household had been in energy in Gabon since 1967.
Nguema, 50, confronted seven different candidates, together with former Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie-by-Nze, who served below the Bongo regime, and two stalwarts of the previous ruling PDG celebration, Stéphane Germain Iloko and Alain Simplice Boungouères.
“Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema is elected [president] by absolute majority of votes solid, with 575,222 votes,” Inside Minister Hermann Immongault introduced.
His predominant challenger, Bilie-by-Nze, acquired simply over 3% of the votes.
Greater than seven out of 10 registered voters took half within the ballot, which the authorities and a few observers hailed as signifying the election came about transparently and peacefully.
Some voters, in addition to Bilie-by-Nze, complained of situations of irregularities within the dealing with of the vote, nevertheless.
Nguema’s victory brings him a seven-year mandate and the assets to deal with the corruption and dangerous governance that characterised the Bongos’ time in energy.
The extremely articulate former commander of the elite Republican Guard proved to be very fashionable amongst a inhabitants relieved to be rid of dynastic rule, promising to rid the nation of the unwell that had tainted Gabon’s picture.
The small oil- and timber-rich central African nation is dwelling to only 2.5 million individuals.
Regardless of its assets, about 35% of the inhabitants nonetheless reside under the poverty line of $2 (£1.50) a day.
Extra BBC tales on Gabon:
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