The political framework of Gabon

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema (since 4 September 2023)
Prime Minister: Raymond NDONG SIMA (since 7 September 2023)

Next Election Dates

Presidential: August 2025
Senate: August 2025
National Assembly: August 2025

Main Political Parties

Gabon is a multy-party state, though the Gabonese Democratic Party is the one that holds the power. Opposition parties are allowed, but are widely considered to have no real chance of gaining power. Opposition parties include:
- Restoration of Republican Values (RV)
- The Democrats (LD).

Following the 2023 military coup, all the members of the Transitional Parliament appointed by the Transitional president.

Executive Power

The legislative power in Gabon is vested in both the President and the National Assembly. The President, who is also the head of state, is elected for a seven-year term and holds substantial powers, including the ability to appoint the Prime Minister. The Council of Ministers is appointed by the Prime Minister in consultation with the President.

Note: Transitional President Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema assumed office on September 4, 2023, following a military coup led by him and a group known as the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions on August 30, 2023. This coup led to the arrest and detention of President Ali BONGO Ondimba, the cancellation of election results, and the dissolution of state institutions. Gen. OLIGUI was officially sworn in as the transitional president on September 4, 2023.

Legislative Power

The legislative power in Gabon is vested in the Parliament, which has two chambers:

- The National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) is composed of 120 members. 111 members are elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies, and 9 members are appointed by the President.

- The Senate (Sénat) consists of 91 members, elected for a six-year term in single-seat constituencies by local and departmental councillors.

Note: Transitional President Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema assumed office on September 4, 2023, following a military coup led by him and a group known as the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions on August 30, 2023. This coup resulted in the arrest and detention of President Ali BONGO Ondimba, the cancellation of election results, and the dissolution of state institutions. Gen. OLIGUI was officially sworn in as the transitional president on September 4, 2023.

The composition of the Transitional Parliament, which replaced the previous bicameral structure, is as follows:

- The Senate now comprises 70 seats, with members appointed by the Transitional president. The term of office for members is currently not defined.

- The National Assembly consists of 98 seats, with members appointed by the Transitional president. Similarly, the term of office for members is not defined.

This setup raises concerns about the representativeness and democratic nature of the Transitional Parliament. With members appointed by the Transitional president and unclear terms of office, there are questions about the accountability and independence of the legislative body. Such a structure could undermine democratic principles and popular representation, potentially paving the way for authoritarian tendencies and reducing transparency in governance.

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

World Rank:

117/180

Indicator of Political Freedom

Ranking:

Not Free

Political Freedom:

7/7

Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House