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President of Gabon

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President of the
Gabonese Republic
Président de la
République gabonaise
Presidential standard
since 30 August 2023[a]
Executive branch of the Government of the Gabonese Republic
Type
ResidencePresidential Palace, Libreville
Term lengthSeven years,
renewable once
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Gabon
Formation17 August 1960; 64 years ago (1960-08-17)[b]
First holderLéon M'ba
DeputyVice President of Gabon
SalaryUS$65,000 annually[1]
Websitepresidence.ga
Politics of Gabon
Constitution
Government
Parliament
Administrative divisions
Elections
Foreign relations

The president of Gabon (French: Président du Gabon) is the head of state and government of Gabon. A total of three people have served as president (not counting the collective head of state, one disputed president, three acting presidents and one transitional president) since the post was formed in 1960.

The current president, Brice Oligui Nguema, took power in a coup on 30 August 2023 from Ali Bongo. He was eventually elected to the presidency in the 2025 presidential election.

Description of the office

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Election

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The president of the republic is elected for a presidential term of seven years, universal and direct suffrage, as per the 2024 Constitution.[2] The president is eligible for re-election once, with a maximum of two consecutive terms, regardless of constitutional revisions.[3] The 2024 Constitution reintroduced a two-term limit, replacing the unlimited re-election allowed under earlier amendments and explicitly prohibiting more than two successive mandates.[3][4]

The election is conducted via a two-round majoritarian system. The candidate who obtains an absolute majority of votes expressed in the first round is elected. If no candidate achieves this, a second round is held 14 days after the proclamation of results, between the two candidates who received the most votes in the first round. The candidate with the most votes in the second round is elected. In case of withdrawal or permanent incapacity of one of the top two candidates, the next highest-ranking candidate from the first round replaces them.[3]

Eligibility for the presidency is restricted to Gabonese citizens of either sex who:

  • are born Gabonese to at least one Gabonese parent, themselves born Gabonese;
  • hold exclusive Gabonese nationality (dual nationals must renounce other nationalities three years prior);
  • are aged between 35 and 70 years;
  • are married to a Gabonese spouse born to at least one Gabonese parent, themselves born Gabonese;
  • have resided in Gabon continuously for at least three years before the election;
  • enjoy full civil and political rights;
  • are certified to be in complete physical and mental well-being by a sworn medical panel designated by the bureaus of both parliamentary chambers.[5]

The president’s spouse and descendants are ineligible to run for the presidency immediately following the president’s term.[5] If a candidate dies or is incapacitated within the month before the first round, the Constitutional Court may postpone the election, but not beyond the incumbent president’s term end.[5]

The Constitutional Court may extend election timelines, but the election must occur no later than the expiration of the incumbent president’s mandate.[6] If the election is delayed beyond the current president’s term, the president remains in office until their successor is elected.[6] The modalities for these provisions are set by organic law.[6]

The presidential term begins on the day of the presidential oath, within eight working days after the Constitutional Court proclaimed the results, and ends after the seventh year.[6] The election must take place no later than three months before the end of the incumbent president’s term.[6] The incumbent president may not shorten their term to seek another mandate.[6]

If the incumbent president runs for re-election, they cannot legislate by ordinance from the announcement of their candidacy until the election, and the National Assembly may not be dissolved. In cases of necessity, Parliament may convene in an extraordinary session.[6]

Oath of office

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The presidential oath marks the beginning of the presidential term and must occur after the Constitutional Court proclaims the official election results, within eight working days if no disputes arise, or within 15 days if contested.[6] The president solemnly takes the following oath before the Constitutional Court and Parliament, with the left hand on the Constitution and the right hand raised before the national flag:[7]

I, [name], elected President of the Republic, pledge before God, our Ancestors, and the Gabonese people to devote all my energies to their well-being, to protect them from all harm, to faithfully respect and defend the Constitution and the rule of law, to preserve democratic achievements, the independence of the homeland, the integrity of the national territory, and to conscientiously fulfill the duties of my office and be just to all. I so swear.

Vacancy

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In case of a temporary incapacity of the president, as certified by the Constitutional Court upon referral by the presidents of both parliamentary chambers or the Vice-President of the Government, the Vice-President of the Republic temporarily assumes presidential duties, excluding certain powers (e.g., constitutional amendments, dissolution of the National Assembly, or referendum initiation). Temporary incapacity cannot exceed forty-five days, after which it becomes permanent.[8] In case of a vacancy or permanent incapacity of the president, as certified by the Constitutional Court upon referral by the National Assembly bureau (by a two-thirds majority) or the Vice-President of the Government (after a simple majority vote in the Council of Ministers), the president of the Senate temporarily assumes presidential duties. If the Senate president is incapacitated, the first vice-president of the Senate takes over. The interim president exercises full presidential powers, except for specific powers (e.g., constitutional amendments or dissolution), and is ineligible to run in the subsequent presidential election.[8] The interim president must take the following oath before the Constitutional Court and Parliament, with the left hand on the Constitution and the right hand raised before the national flag:[8]

I swear to devote all my energies to the good of the Gabonese people, to ensure their well-being and protect them from all harm, to respect and defend the Constitution and the rule of law, to conscientiously fulfill the duties of my office, and to be just to all.

In cases of vacancy or permanent incapacity, the election for a new president must occur between 30 and 120 days after the vacancy or incapacity is declared, unless the Constitutional Court cites force majeure.[8] The modalities are set by organic law.[8]

List of officeholders

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Political parties
  Gabonese Democratic Bloc (BDG) → Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG)
  Gabonese Democratic and Social Union (UDSG)
  Democratic and Republican Alliance (ADERE)
  Rally of Builders (RdB)
Other factions
  Military
Status
  Denotes acting or transitional president
Symbols

§ Elected unopposed

† Died in office

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Elected Term of office Political party Prime minister(s)
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Léon M'ba
(1902–1967)[c] 		1961[§]
1967[§] 		17 August 1960 28 November 1967[†] 7 years, 103 days BDG Himself
(until 1961)
Post abolished
(from 1961)
— Revolutionary Committee[d]
(In opposition to Léon M'ba) 		— 17 February 1964 18 February 1964 1 day Military None
— Jean-Hilaire Aubame
(1912–1989)[e]
(In opposition to Léon M'ba) 		— 18 February 1964 19 February 1964 1 day UDSG None
2 Omar Bongo
(1935–2009)[f] 		— 28 November 1967 2 December 1967 41 years, 192 days BDG
until 1968 renamed to
PDG 		Post abolished
(until 1975)
Mébiame
Oyé-Mba
Obame-Nguema
Ntoutoume Emane
Eyeghe Ndong
1973[§]
1979[§]
1986[§]
1993
1998
2005 		2 December 1967 8 June 2009[g][†]
— Didjob Divungi Di Ndinge
(born 1946)[h] 		— 6 May 2009 10 June 2009 35 days ADERE Eyeghe Ndong
— Rose Francine Rogombé
(1942–2015)[i] 		— 10 June 2009 16 October 2009 128 days PDG Eyeghe Ndong
Biyoghé Mba
3 Ali Bongo
(born 1959)[j] 		2009
2016
2023 		16 October 2009 30 August 2023
(Deposed in a coup) 		13 years, 318 days PDG Biyoghé Mba
Ndong Sima
Ona Ondo
Issoze-Ngondet
Nkoghe Bekale
Raponda
By Nze
4 Brice Oligui Nguema
(born 1975)[a] 		— 30 August 2023[9][10] 3 May 2025 1 year, 247 days RdB[k] Ndong Sima
2025 3 May 2025 Incumbent Post abolished
(from 2025)

Timeline

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Brice Oligui NguemaAli BongoRose Francine RogombéDidjob Divungi Di NdingeOmar BongoJean-Hilaire AubameLéon M'ba

Latest election

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Main article: 2025 Gabonese presidential election

Provisional results released on 13 April showed that Oligui had won 90.35% of the vote while Bilie by Nze won 3.02%, with the remainder going to six other candidates. Turnout was estimated at 70.4%.[12]

CandidateParty
Brice Oligui NguemaIndependent politician
Alain Claude Bilie By NzeEnsemble pour le Gabon
Joseph Lapensée EssigoneIndependent politician
Gninga Chaning ZenabaIndependent politician
Stéphane Germain-ko BoussenguiLarge Rassemblement Arc-en-ciel
Alain Simplice Boungoueres
Total
Source: Gabon Review

Notes

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  1. ^ a b As Chairman of the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions from 30 August 2023 until 2 May 2025 and as Transitional President de facto from 30 August 2023 and de jure from 4 September 2023 until 3 May 2025.
  2. ^ The office was established on 28 November 1958, while Gabon was part of the French Community.
  3. ^ Briefly interrupted during the 17–18 February 1964 coup d'état.
  4. ^ Members: Daniel Mbene, Jean-Valaire Essone, Jacques Mombo and Daniel Mbo Edou.
  5. ^ Head of the provisional government. Other members were: Philippe N'dong, editor of Gabon's literary review Réalités Gabonaises; Dr. Eloi Chambrier, Gabon's only physician; Philippe Mory, a famous Gabonese actor; and civil servant Paul Gondjout.
  6. ^ Previously named Albert-Bernard Bongo; changed name on 29 September 1973, after conversion to Islam. Added Ondimba to the name on 15 November 2003.
  7. ^ The duties were suspended from 6 May 2009 until 8 June 2009.
  8. ^ Acted for Bongo during his incapacitation in the hospital, Vice President.
  9. ^ Succeeded Bongo as the constitutional successor, President of the Senate.
  10. ^ Son of Omar Bongo. Born as Alain-Bernard Bongo.
  11. ^ Military until early March 2025[11] (CTRI) / Independent until 13 April 2025. RdB from 12 March 2025 (as a political alliance).

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Top 15 Highest Paid African Presidents 2017". 15 December 2016.
  2. ^ Constitution of the Gabonese Republic, 2024, Article 42. Journal Officiel de la République Gabonaise, https://journal-officiel.ga/21489-002-r-2024-/
  3. ^ a b c Article 42 of the Constitution of 2024.
  4. ^ Article 169 of the Constitution of 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Article 43 of the Constitution of 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Article 44 of the Constitution of 2024.
  7. ^ Article 45 of the Constitution of 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e Article 46 of the Constitution of 2024.
  9. ^ "Gabon coup: Army seizes power from Ali Bongo and puts him in house arrest". bbc.com. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  10. ^ "General Nguema appointed transitional president of Gabon following coup". Anadolu Agency. Kigali, Rwanda. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  11. ^ https://theconversation.com/gabon-elections-why-a-landmark-vote-wont-bring-real-change-253902
  12. ^ "Gabon's junta chief wins presidency by landslide, provisional results show". France 24. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
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