The president of Gabon () is the head of state and government of Gabon. A total of four people have served as president (not counting the collective head of state, one disputed president, three acting presidents and one transitional president) since the post was formed in 1960. Since 2025 the office of prime minister has been abolished, and now the president is the leader of the executive government and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

The current president, Brice Oligui Nguema, took power in a coup on 30 August 2023 from Ali Bongo. He was eventually elected to the presidency in the 2025 presidential election.

Description of the office

Election

The president of the republic is elected for a presidential term of seven years, universal and direct suffrage, as per the 2024 Constitution. The president is eligible for re-election once, with a maximum of two consecutive terms, regardless of constitutional revisions. The 2024 Constitution reintroduced a two-term limit, replacing the unlimited re-election allowed under earlier amendments and explicitly prohibiting more than two successive mandates.

The election is conducted via a two-round majoritarian system. The candidate who obtains an absolute majority of votes expressed in the first round is elected. If no candidate achieves this, a second round is held 14 days after the proclamation of results, between the two candidates who received the most votes in the first round. The candidate with the most votes in the second round is elected. In case of withdrawal or permanent incapacity of one of the top two candidates, the next highest-ranking candidate from the first round replaces them.

The president’s spouse and descendants are ineligible to run for the presidency immediately following the president’s term. If the election is delayed beyond the current president’s term, the president remains in office until their successor is elected.

Vacancy

In case of a temporary incapacity of the president, as certified by the Constitutional Court upon referral by the presidents of both parliamentary chambers or the Vice-President of the Government, the Vice-President of the Republic temporarily assumes presidential duties, excluding certain powers (e.g., constitutional amendments, dissolution of the National Assembly, or referendum initiation). Temporary incapacity cannot exceed forty-five days, after which it becomes permanent. In case of a vacancy or permanent incapacity of the president, as certified by the Constitutional Court upon referral by the National Assembly bureau (by a two-thirds majority) or the Vice-President of the Government (after a simple majority vote in the Council of Ministers), the president of the Senate temporarily assumes presidential duties. If the Senate president is incapacitated, the first vice-president of the Senate takes over. The interim president exercises full presidential powers, except for specific powers (e.g., constitutional amendments or dissolution), and is ineligible to run in the subsequent presidential election.

| 2009<br />2016<br />2023

| 2009

| 2023<br />

|

| PDG

| Biyoghé Mba<br />Ndong Sima<br />Ona Ondo<br />Issoze-Ngondet<br />Nkoghe Bekale<br />Raponda<br />By Nze

|-

! rowspan="2" style="background:; color:white;" | 4

| rowspan="2" | 90px

| rowspan="2" | Brice Oligui Nguema<br />

| style="background:#e6e6aa;" | —

| style="background:#e6e6aa;" | 2023

| style="background:#e6e6aa;" | 2025

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" | UDB

| style="background:#e6e6aa;" | Ndong Sima

|-

| 2025

| 2025

| Incumbent

| Post abolished<br />

|}

Timeline

Latest election

Notes

See also

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

References

  • World Statesmen – Gabon
  • 1991 Constitution of Gabon (as amended in 2011)