Gabon votes in first legislative and local elections since 2023 coup

Gabon on Saturday held its first legislative and local elections since a 2023 military coup ended the 50-year Bongo political dynasty. More than 900,000 Gabonese were eligible to elect 145 members of the National Assembly and local councilors to replace officials appointed by the military government. Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema toppled President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who was accused of irresponsible governance, and in April won the presidential election that signaled a return to constitutional democracy. Polls closed Saturday evening, with vote counting to begin immediately at each polling station. Observers were allowed to monitor the process. First results were expected Sunday.

In Libreville, voting began with a slight delay because of early morning rain. Voters had turned out in lines since 8 a.m. The vote unfolded mostly peacefully. Just in Ntoum, a suburb of Libreville, voting was canceled in one constituency because of tensions between candidates. The main parties in the running are the Gabonese Democratic Party — the former ruling party that won every election since 1968 until its 2023 ouster — and the Democratic Union of Builders (UDB), founded only three months ago by Oligui Nguema. Several small, underfunded parties have nominated candidates.

Saturday's vote will elect 145 National Assembly members, including two representing Gabonese citizens living abroad. The local polls are for councilors, who will indirectly elect the 70 senators, mayors and presidents of regional assemblies. The country operates a presidential system under the constitution approved by referendum last year. The legislative power is limited and parliament cannot topple the government. A new electoral code earlier this year allowed military personnel to run, including Oligui Nguema in the April presidential vote. Following his victory, Oligui Nguema pledged to diversify the central African nation's economy, reform the education system and reduce youth unemployment. Gabon has a very high unemployment rate, especially among young graduates, and there is a lack of infrastructure, including roads connecting the regional provinces and basic social services such as improving the supply of clean water to the population.

France and its military forces have been pushed out of several African nations in recent years, but Gabon continues to host the French army, though Paris has been reducing the number of troops there. The French base in Libreville is now shared by both armies. A second round of the election is scheduled for Oct. 11 in constituencies where no candidate has obtained an absolute majority in the first round.