Brice Oligui Nguema: Gabon’s coup leader eyes election victory

After deposing Gabonese President Ali Bongo two years ago, Gen Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema was carried through the streets by his triumphant troops, who chanted “Oligui, président! Oligui, président!”.

The general certainly appeared to be a man of the people as he was held aloft by his soldiers, but to many, he was an unexpected leader.

Just five years ago, he barely existed in Gabon’s public consciousness. He had spent 10 years outside the country after being dismissed from the inner circle of the Bongo family, who until August 2023 had ruled Gabon for almost 56 years.

On Gen Oligui Nguema’s return, he quietly rose to the army’s highest position. Now, after 19 months as interim head of state for the nation of over two million, he is the overwhelming favourite to win April’s presidential election.

The 50-year-old has won praise for nationalising some foreign-owned oil assets, external, broadening the range of voices in political institutions by letting in opponents and civil society figures, boosting infrastructure and paying workers’ outstanding pension arrears.

Of the five West and Central African nations that have endured coups since 2020, Oligui Nguema’s Gabon is the only one to return to imminent civilian rule or maintain close relations with their former colonial power of France.

But Gabon remains heavily strained by debt, frequent power cuts, and complaints that the military men who staged the coup look set to remain in power despite promising to hand over to civilians.

Yet the strongman remains broadly popular among a population relieved to be rid of dynastic rule, writes analyst Paul Melly, assisted by electoral regulations that have disqualified some key challengers.

Equipped with a raft of presidential promises and a catchy campaign slogan “C’BON” – a play on his initials and the French word “c’est bon”, meaning “it’s good” – he approaches these polls in ebullient form.

On occasion “(I’ve Got) The Power” blasts out on stage as he dances, external to the delight of supporters – quite the song choice for a man who seized power by force and now seeks legitimacy through the ballot.