President of Gabon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids President of the Gabonese Republic
Presidential standard
Incumbent Brice Oligui Nguema since 30 August 2023
Executive branch of the Government of the Gabonese Republic
Residence	Presidential Palace, Libreville
Term length	Seven years, renewable once
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Gabon
Formation	12 February 1961; 64 years ago (1961-02-12)
First holder	Léon M'ba
Deputy	Vice President of Gabon
Salary	US$65,000 annually

The president of Gabon (French: Président du Gabon) is the top leader of Gabon. This person is both the head of state and the head of government. They also lead the country's armed forces. Since the position was created in 1960, four people have officially served as president.

The current president is Brice Oligui Nguema. He took power on August 30, 2023, after a change in government. He was then elected president in the 2025 presidential election.

About the President's Job

How the President is Chosen

The president of Gabon is elected for a seven-year term. Citizens vote directly for their president. A president can be re-elected only once, meaning they can serve a maximum of two terms. This rule was brought back in the 2024 Constitution.

The election uses a two-round voting system. To win in the first round, a candidate needs more than half of all the votes. If no one gets enough votes in the first round, a second round is held two weeks later. The two candidates with the most votes from the first round compete again. The person who gets the most votes in the second round wins.

To become president, a person must meet certain requirements:

• They must be a Gabonese citizen from birth.
• They must only have Gabonese citizenship.
• They must be between 35 and 70 years old.
• They must be married to a Gabonese spouse.
• They must have lived in Gabon for at least three years before the election.
• They must speak at least one national language.
• They must have full civil and political rights.
• Doctors must confirm they are healthy enough for the job.

The president's spouse and children cannot run for president right after the president's term ends. If a candidate dies or becomes unable to run close to the election, the Constitutional Court might delay the election.

The president's term starts when they take an oath. This happens within eight working days after the election results are announced. The election must take place no later than three months before the current president's term ends.

Taking the Oath

The president officially starts their job by taking an oath. This happens in front of the Constitutional Court and Parliament. The president places their left hand on the Constitution and raises their right hand to the national flag.

The oath is a promise to serve the people of Gabon. The president promises to protect the country and its laws. They also promise to be fair to everyone.

What Happens if the President Can't Serve?

If the president is temporarily unable to do their job, the Vice-President steps in. This temporary period cannot last more than 45 days. If the president's inability continues, it becomes permanent.

If the president's position becomes empty or they are permanently unable to serve, the president of the Senate takes over. This temporary leader has most of the president's powers. However, they cannot change the Constitution or dissolve the National Assembly. This temporary leader also cannot run in the next presidential election.

When a president's position becomes empty, a new election must be held. This election happens between 30 and 120 days after the position is declared empty.

Past Presidents of Gabon

Here is a list of the people who have served as president of Gabon.

Political parties

     Gabonese Democratic Bloc (BDG) → Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG)      Gabonese Democratic and Social Union (UDSG)      Democratic and Republican Alliance (ADERE)      Rally of Builders (RdB)

Other groups

     Military

Status

     Means acting or temporary president

Symbols

Elected without opposition

Died while in office

No.	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Elected	Time in Office			Political party	Prime minister(s)
				Started	Ended	Length of time
1		Léon M'ba (1902–1967)	1961 1967	17 August 1960	28 November 1967	7 years, 103 days	BDG	Himself (until 1961) Position removed (from 1961)
—		Revolutionary Committee (Against Léon M'ba)	—	17 February 1964	18 February 1964	1 day	Military	None
—		Jean-Hilaire Aubame (1912–1989) (Against Léon M'ba)	—	18 February 1964	19 February 1964	1 day	UDSG	None
2		Omar Bongo (1935–2009)	—	28 November 1967	2 December 1967	41 years, 192 days	BDG until 1968 renamed to PDG	Position removed (until 1975) Mébiame Oyé-Mba Obame-Nguema Ntoutoume Emane Eyeghe Ndong
			1973 1979 1986 1993 1998 2005	2 December 1967	8 June 2009
—		Divungi Di Ndinge (born 1946)	—	6 May 2009	10 June 2009	35 days	ADERE	Eyeghe Ndong
—		Rose Francine Rogombé (1942–2015)	—	10 June 2009	16 October 2009	128 days	PDG	Eyeghe Ndong Biyoghé Mba
3		Ali Bongo (born 1959)	2009 2016 2023	16 October 2009	30 August 2023 (Removed from power)	13 years, 318 days	PDG	Biyoghé Mba Ndong Sima Ona Ondo Issoze-Ngondet Nkoghe Bekale Raponda By Nze
4		Brice Oligui Nguema (born 1975)	—	30 August 2023	3 May 2025	1 year, 328 days	RdB	Ndong Sima
			2025	3 May 2025	Incumbent			Position removed (from 2025)

Timeline of Presidents

Latest Election Results

The most recent election for president was the 2025 Gabonese presidential election. Here are the results:

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Presidentes de Gabón para niños

• First Lady of Gabon
• Vice President of Gabon
• Prime Minister of Gabon
• List of colonial governors of Gabon
• Politics of Gabon