Gabon Coup Leader-Turned-President Nguema Launches New Political Party

 President Brice Oligui Nguema, who seized power in a 2023 coup, launched his political party, the Gabonese Democratic and Republican Alliance (ADRG), on July 5, 2025, marking a pivotal shift in the nation’s political landscape. 

The event, held at the Palais de la République, drew 10,000 supporters, where Nguema outlined a vision to rebuild Gabon after 56 years of Bongo family rule, promising economic diversification and anti-corruption measures. The 50-year-old, who won a landslide 90.35% in the April 2025 election, framed the ADRG as a vehicle to break from his past as aide-de-camp to Omar Bongo and commander under Ali Bongo.

The launch follows scrutiny over Nguema’s $1 million U.S. property purchases, raising questions about his financial transparency. The ADRG, with an initial membership of 50,000, aims to contest local elections by 2026, focusing on oil-independent sectors like agriculture and tourism, which contribute 5% and 10% to Gabon’s $18 billion GDP, respectively. 

Opposition leader Alain Claude Bilie By Nze, who secured 3% in the presidential race, criticized the move as consolidating power, with 40% of citizens skeptical of democratic intent. Nguema’s pledge to maintain ties with France contrasts regional junta trends, with the party’s manifesto targeting 20% poverty reduction by 2030.