General Nguema Claims Victory in Gabon's Presidential Election Following Military Coup**

General Brice Oligui Nguema has won Gabon's presidential election with more than 90% of the vote, further entrenching military rule in the nation. His victory comes on the heels of his coup in 2023, fueling debates on the integrity of democratic processes in the region.**

Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema, a military leader who seized power in a coup last year, has emerged victorious in Gabon's presidential election, according to preliminary results reported by the Interior Ministry. The results show Nguema receiving over 90 percent of the votes cast, a margin that raises concerns among analysts regarding the fair conduct of the election. The main opposition candidate, former Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, has since conceded defeat.

While Gabon’s Constitutional Court is expected to release the official results in the coming days, skepticism persists among political opponents who argue that the election processes were manipulated to ensure Nguema's success. This victory marks the first time in recent history that a military leader has solidified electoral power within the Central African nation, suggesting a broader trend across West and Central Africa where several other countries have also shifted back toward military governance in recent years.

This win highlights the growing phenomenon of military leaders transitioning from power grabs to electoral victories, following the example set by Chad's Mahamat Déby. With this election, Nguema is poised to govern Gabon for a term of seven years, indicating a potential return to authoritarian rule in the region as democratic institutions face increasing pressure from armed forces.