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2025 Gabonese general election
General elections are due to be held in Gabon on 12 April 2025.[1] They will be the first elections in the country since the Bongo dynasty was overthrown in the 2023 coup after 56 years of rule. BackgroundIn August 2023, a general election was held where incumbent president Ali Bongo won a third term with 64% of the votes. The results were heavily controversial and disputed and four days later, the Gabonese Army and the Gabonese Republican Guard, led by Brigadier General Brice Oligui Nguema, who was a cousin of Bongo, led a coup d'état which ousted and arrested Bongo and his government, annulled the election results, dissolved all state institutions, and where the military assumes control of the country with Nguema as transitional president.[2][3][4] On 13 November, the military junta authorities promised free and fair elections to be held.[5] On 9 January 2025, Brice Oligui Nguema announced that the country will hold a presidential election on 22 March 2025. This decision follows the adoption of a new constitution in November 2024, which establishes a presidential system with term limits and stricter eligibility requirements.[6] However, on 22 January, the government announced that the election would be held on 12 April 2025.[7] On 20 January, the Transitional Parliament approved a new electoral code, allowing members of the security forces and magistrates to run for office and reserving two seats in parliament for members of the Gabonese diaspora. It also allowed dual nationals to become candidates except in presidential elections without having to renounce their other nationality and moved the responsibility of organising elections from local governments to the interior ministry.[8] Constitutional ReferendumOn 16 November 2024, Gabon held a constitutional referendum, which was approved by 91% of the electorate.[9] As a result, the post of prime minister was abolished, the presidential terms was set for seven years, renewable once, and as well as the president was required to have at least one parent who is Gabonese and have a Gabonese spouse. The referendum is also seen by many as a key step towards return to civilian rule after the coup.[10] Electoral systemThe President of Gabon is elected for a seven-year term via the two-round system.[11] The 143 seats in the National Assembly are elected in single-member constituencies using the two-round system. The voting age in Gabon is 21, and voting is compulsory; non-participants may be fined.[12] CandidatesPotential
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