UN calls for peaceful, transparent presidential election in Gabon

IANS April 12, 2025 176 views

Gabon prepares for a critical presidential election following a military coup in August 2023. The United Nations is calling for a transparent and peaceful electoral process that reflects the true will of the Gabonese people. Eight candidates, including coup leader Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, are competing in this landmark election. The country aims to demonstrate its commitment to democratic principles by maintaining open borders, internet access, and business operations during the voting process.

"The results must reflect the will freely expressed by the Gabonese people" - Abdou Abarry, UN Special Representative
United Nations, April 12: Abdou Abarry, special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Africa and head of the United Nations regional office for Central Africa, renewed his call for a credible, inclusive, transparent and sincere electoral process on the eve of Gabon's presidential election set for Saturday.

Key Points

1

UN supports democratic transition in Gabon's first post-coup election

2

Nguema resigns military to contest presidency

3

920,200 voters across 3,037 polling stations

4

48 observer missions accredited for electoral process

In a statement issued on Friday, Abarry said that the results of the vote must reflect the will freely expressed by the Gabonese people, urging all stakeholders to give priority to dialogue, consultation, and consensus-building in case of any divergence or dispute arising from the electoral process.

The special representative reaffirmed his readiness to support the Gabonese people in their march toward a return to constitutional order and welcomed the efforts already made to meet the transition timeline, reports Xinhua news agency.

The 14-day electoral campaign concluded with eight presidential candidates in the running, including transitional President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.

Nguema, who led a coup on August 30, 2023, resigned from the military, as Gabon's Electoral Code allows military personnel to contest for the presidency if they first take a leave of absence from active duty.

Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze, the former prime minister under former President Ali Bongo, ousted by the coup in 2023, has emerged as a prominent challenger.

According to Gabon's Interior Ministry, 3,037 polling stations will be operational on Saturday nationwide and abroad, namely 2,941 within Gabon and 96 at overseas missions, serving a total of 920,200 registered voters.

Polls are set to open at 7 a.m. local time before closing at 6:00 p.m. local time, with extensions possible in accordance with the Electoral Code. A total of 48 national and international observer missions have been accredited.

In a notable departure from previous elections, Gabon will not impose border closures or restrict internet access, and businesses will remain open, said the ministry. The Gabonese government said that the peaceful atmosphere reflects the country's commitment to democratic principles and civic freedoms.

According to the Electoral Code, a runoff will be held if no candidate secures an outright majority in the first round.

Reader Comments

M
Marie K.
This is such an important moment for Gabon! 🤞 Hoping for a peaceful election that truly represents the will of the people. The UN's involvement gives me some confidence in the process.
J
Jean-Luc T.
Interesting that they're keeping borders open and internet unrestricted this time. That's real progress! Though I wonder if having the coup leader as a candidate sets a dangerous precedent...
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Amina B.
As someone from the region, I'm cautiously optimistic. The international observers are crucial - we've seen too many "elections" that were just theater. Gabon deserves better.
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Paul D.
While I appreciate the UN's efforts, I'm concerned they're being too diplomatic. The article doesn't mention the opposition's complaints about unequal campaign access. True democracy needs more than just technical transparency.
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Sophie M.
The fact that businesses will stay open during voting is a great sign! In my country they always shut everything down "for security" but it just creates tension. Gabon's approach seems more mature.
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Kwame O.
Let's hope this election brings stability. The region doesn't need another crisis. The international community should be ready to support whichever candidate wins fairly.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Gabon Election UN Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema Abdou Abarry African Democracy Political Transition
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