The leader of a 2023 coup in Gabon, General Brice Oligui Nguema, 50, elected president with 90% of votes cast and will now lead the country for the next seven years, renewable once.

He is a former aide-de-camp to Ali Bongo’s father Omar Bongo, who served as president for more than 40 years until his death in 2009.

Gabon’s military leader led the military coup that cut short the 55 years of dynastic rule of the Bongo family.

The Bongo dynasty ruled Gabon through a web of patronage, distributing influential posts to allies and family members.

Just five years ago, he barely existed in Gabon’s public consciousness. He had spent 10 years outside the country after being dismissed from the inner circle of the Bongo family, who until August 2023 had ruled Gabon for almost 56 years.

Source: Reuters, BBCNews, AJENews.