The presidential election in Gabon is scheduled for April 12

Late on Wednesday, Gabon’s cabinet of ministers announced that the military rule that started with a coup on August 30, 2023, would conclude with presidential elections scheduled for April 12, 2025.

The presidential election’s date was verified by minutes of a ministerial cabinet meeting that were made public overnight.

“Under the terms of this decree, the electoral college is convened for Saturday 12 April 2025,” according to the minutes.

The long-standing authority of his predecessor Ali Bongo and his family over the oil-rich but impoverished country came to an end when Brice Oligui Nguema, the temporary president of Gabon, took power in one of eight coups that occurred in West and central Africa between 2020 and 2023.

The leaders of the military coup promised to take action to restore constitutional governance, and in November, Gabon voted in favor of a new constitution in a referendum.

However, some analysts worry that the ruling junta would exploit the procedure to hold onto power. The new constitution makes an exception for Nguema even though transitional leaders are not allowed to run for president.