Gabon is scheduled to hold its presidential election on April 12, according to an announcement by the council of ministers. The country has been under military rule since a coup in August 2023.
“In accordance with this decree, the electoral college will convene on Saturday, April 12, 2025,” stated a government release issued late Wednesday after a cabinet meeting.
The announcement follows the recent adoption of a new electoral code by Gabon’s parliament last Sunday. The legislation outlines the framework for conducting elections and is pending approval by the Constitutional Court.
The new law has sparked controversy, as it permits military personnel to contest all political elections, a departure from previous restrictions. This change could pave the way for Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, the leader of the 2023 coup that ousted former president Ali Bongo Ondimba, to seek his first presidential term.
Gabon’s updated constitution, ratified via a referendum in November, establishes a seven-year presidential term, renewable once.
