Gabon : A New Era Unfolds

April 12, 2025 will go into the annals of Gabonese history as the day the entire nation turn out en-masse to renew their confidence in a man who put anend to the Bongo’s dynasty in 2023. On the starting block for the April 2025 presidential election were eight candidates including one lady. At the end, according to the elections organizing committee, it is the head of the transitional government, Brice Oligui Nguema that won. On the score board, Brice Oligui Nguema grabbed 90.35% of the votes, Alain-Claude Bilie Bie Nze, got 3.02% of the vote, while the remaining six candidates failed to break the 1% mark. The election which most observers said was hitch-free saw a 70.4% voter turnout marking a significant step in Gabon’s return to constitutional rule.
With Gabon now back to civilian rule, all eyes are now on the new president to deliver the goods as he did promised during his campaign. The challenges might not be easy, but with a methodical and rigorous plan in place, he will overcome the uphill task of rebuilding public trust in institutions that have been marred by corruption, tribalism, influence peddling, political demagogy and external interference. To set the ball rolling, the new administration will need to prioritize transparency and governance reform across the judiciary, public sector, and regulatory agencies which are key sectors in the management of the day-to-day affairs of the country.
Good administration goes hand-in-glove with infrastructure. To unfold the new era on a good footing, President Brice Nguema must overcome the persistent problem of infrastructure especially outside major cities like Libreville and Port-Gentil, which have benefited from investment while other parts of the country remain underserved. It is by so doing that he will reconnect many parts of the country which are disconnected and difficult to access to the rest of the cities. A massive diversification of the economy beyond oil, is an issue President Nguema and his team will have to tackle in order to better the living conditions of the people. Other sectors such as mining, timber and agriculture are good alternatives to attract investors in the country. The putting in place of a strong regulation and a win-win strategy will not only attract foreign investments, but will also create more jobs as only semi-finished or finished...