Libreville, Gabon – October 13, 2025: President Brice Oligui Nguema’s Democratic Union of Builders (UDB) has secured 55 seats in Gabon’s 145-member National Assembly following a second round of parliamentary elections, consolidating power after the military coup that brought him to leadership in August 2023. The victory represents more than electoral success—it marks the completion of a carefully managed transition that has maintained international legitimacy while transforming Gabon’s political landscape.
The parliamentary majority emerged after runoff elections held on October 11, where the UDB competed primarily against the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG)—the former ruling party of the overthrown Bongo dynasty. The PDG managed only three seats in the first round, with both parties sharing four additional seats through joint tickets. This cooperation between coup leaders and remnants of the old regime reveals the consensual nature of Gabon’s political transition.
This electoral outcome caps a political transformation that began on August 30, 2023, when Nguema led a military coup that ended the Bongo family’s 56-year rule over the oil-rich Central African nation. Unlike other recent military takeovers in the Sahel, Gabon’s transition has proceeded through constitutional processes that have earned international recognition.
A Selective International Response
What distinguishes Nguema’s rise from other African military leaders is his reception by former colonial power France. In May 2024, Nguema received military honors at the Élysée Palace during a five-day official visit, meeting with President Emmanuel Macron—a stark contrast to France’s hostile stance toward coup leaders in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
This preferential treatment reflects France’s selective approach to African sovereignty. As one unnamed French government source noted, “Not all putschists are equal”. Nguema’s regime has maintained cooperative relations with Paris, never expressing the anti-French sentiment seen elsewhere in francophone Africa.
French corporate interests have seamlessly continued operations under the new regime. Eramet, which controls significant manganese operations in Gabon through its subsidiary Comilog, briefly suspended activities during the coup but quickly resumed. In a notable appointment, the junta named Marcel Abeke, a former Eramet executive, as Petroleum Minister in September 2023. This selection demonstrates continuity in French corporate access to Gabon’s strategic resources.
TotalEnergies, present in Gabon since colonial times, maintained operations throughout the transition, extracting approximately 17,000 barrels daily through its subsidiary TotalEnergies EP Gabon. The company operates 45 service stations in the country and has shown no signs of facing pressure under the new leadership.
Resource Control Amid Limited Reform
Gabon produces approximately 236,000 barrels of oil daily as of January 2025, making it a significant regional producer despite holding modest reserves compared to continental giants like Nigeria. The country’s oil wealth has historically been concentrated among elites while approximately one-third of the population lives below the national poverty line.
Under Nguema’s leadership, some nationalist measures have emerged. The government nationalized Assala Energy in 2024, though this occurred through existing legal frameworks rather than fundamental restructuring of extraction agreements. Eramet faces potential changes to its operations, with the government announcing intentions to ban crude manganese exports starting in 2029, encouraging local processing.
These measures represent limited resource nationalism within existing structures rather than wholesale challenge to foreign corporate dominance. French companies continue benefiting from long-term agreements negotiated under previous administrations, maintaining their positions in strategic sectors.
Democratic Legitimization of Military Rule
The parliamentary elections followed Nguema’s decisive presidential victory in April 2025, where he won over 90% of votes. His political vehicle, the UDB, was founded in July 2025, demonstrating the rapid institutionalization of military rule through democratic processes.
Civil society organizations noted some restrictions during the electoral process, including requirements for political parties to maintain 12,000 members nationwide—barriers that effectively excluded grassroots movements challenging the status quo. However, international observers generally praised the transparency of the electoral process, with both the African Union and Commonwealth commending the conduct of elections.
Regional Context and Implications
Gabon’s trajectory contrasts sharply with developments across the Sahel, where military governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have expelled French forces and pursued alternative international partnerships. The Alliance of Sahelian States represents a revolutionary challenge to traditional francophone structures, while Gabon’s model offers managed continuity within existing frameworks.
This divergence reflects competing visions of African sovereignty. While Sahel states pursue transformative relationships with new partners including Russia and China, Gabon has maintained traditional ties while seeking modernization within familiar structures.
The parliamentary victory consolidates a system that combines democratic legitimacy with continuity in foreign relations and resource extraction arrangements. Nguema’s government has implemented infrastructure investments and social programs, funded by oil revenues that continue flowing to international markets through established channels.
Gabon’s approach represents a sophisticated evolution of governance that satisfies international legitimacy requirements while preserving essential economic relationships. As regional dynamics continue evolving, Gabon’s model demonstrates how military interventions can achieve constitutional validation while maintaining structural continuity—offering lessons for understanding contemporary African political transitions.
