Gabon presidential election: time for change or more of the same?

This research paper analyzes the political landscape of Gabon during the 2009 presidential election following the death of Omar Bongo. It examines the candidacy of Ali Bongo, the fragmentation of the opposition, and the historical use of oil wealth to maintain power through a presidential dynasty.

• Omar Bongo was Africa's longest-serving president, maintaining power for over 40 years starting in 1967. He secured his final seven-year term in 2005 with nearly 80 percent of the vote.
• The 2009 election features Ali Bongo, the candidate for the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), facing more than 20 rivals. This group includes 10 independents, six opposition party leaders, and two members of the Presidential Majority coalition.
• The election date was delayed beyond the constitutional 45-day window following Omar Bongo's death due to disputes over the voters' roll. The Constitutional Court extended the period to September 4, and the Permanent and Autonomous Electoral Commission (CENAP) set the poll for August 30, despite objections from at least 11 candidates.
• Omar Bongo maintained power by utilizing oil revenues to divide and weaken the opposition through cooptation, repression, and intimidation. The current political environment is characterized by a contest for state power among the elite, influenced by ethnic and regional politics.
• Ali Bongo faces challenges to his leadership from within the ruling coalition, evidenced by the defection of former Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe Ndong and the formation of a new party by Jean Remy Pendy Bouyiki.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2009). Gabon presidential election: time for change or more of the same? https://saiia.org.za/research/gabon-presidential-election-time-for-change-or-more-of-the-same/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Gabon presidential election: time for change or more of the same? 2009. https://saiia.org.za/research/gabon-presidential-election-time-for-change-or-more-of-the-same/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Gabon presidential election: time for change or more of the same? |date=25 August 2009 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/gabon-presidential-election-time-for-change-or-more-of-the-same/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2009gabon, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Gabon presidential election: time for change or more of the same?}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2009}, month = aug, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/gabon-presidential-election-time-for-change-or-more-of-the-same/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }