Gabon’s new party dominates legislative elections after military coup

In Gabon, the first legislative and local elections since a military coup occurred recently, marking a significant moment in the country's political landscape. On voting day, more than 900,000 Gabonese citizens were eligible to select parliament members and local councilors, aiming to replace officials previously appointed by the military after the coup in 2023. The coup ended a political dynasty that lasted 50 years, as General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose leadership faced accusations of mismanagement. The elections were conducted in a predominantly peaceful manner; however, tensions led to the cancellation of voting in one constituency. Reporting on the elections highlighted both the Democratic Union of Builders (UDB), newly founded by Oligui Nguema, and the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), which had previously dominated the political landscape, winning almost every election since its establishment in 1968. Provisional results emerged showing the UDB claimed 55 out of 145 available National Assembly seats, whereas the PDG, representing the former president, only secured three seats. The elections also featured the introduction of a contentious electoral code permitting military personnel to participate in political contests, further complicating Gabon’s transition back to democratic governance. A second round of elections is scheduled, and this phase holds significant implications for the nation's future governance and political stability as it attempts to consolidate democratic practices following years of political turbulence and military interventions.