Gabon begins electoral process ahead of September 27 elections

Gabon has officially launched the electoral process for its upcoming local and legislative elections scheduled for September 27.

The timeline was released as members of the national election commission were sworn in by the Constitutional Court.

The revision of the national electoral roll begins on July 14 and will run through August 12.

This process will allow the inclusion of new voters, removal of deceased or ineligible individuals, updates to personal information, and changes in polling centers.

Citizens aged 18 and above with a Personal Identification Number (PIN) are automatically registered and are only required to select their preferred polling location.

Local electoral commissions are expected to be established and deployed across Gabon and in diaspora communities by July 26.

Candidate nominations for both legislative and local seats will open from July 27 to August 7.

The Ministry of the Interior and the national election commission reaffirmed their commitment to organizing “credible, transparent, and peaceful” elections and encouraged citizens to actively participate in shaping Gabon’s Fifth Republic.

The elections come at a pivotal time for the country, just months after President Brice Oligui Nguema unveiled his new political party, the Democratic Union of Builders (UDB).

Oligui, who seized power in a 2023 coup, was elected president in April 2025 with nearly 95 percent of the vote.

Originally presenting himself as a transitional leader focused on reform, Oligui’s formation of the UDB signals a clear intent to establish a lasting political presence and transition from military to civilian rule.

The upcoming elections will be a critical step in solidifying the country’s democratic framework under his leadership.