Gabon Country Report: April 2026
April 2026
By Deana Syrneva
Gabon is currently undergoing a period of acute political instability following the August 2023 military coup which removed President Ali Bongo Ondimba from power after a contested third presidential election. The coup was led by Brice Oligui Nguema, who assumed authority as transitional president. Raymond Ndong Sima was appointed interim prime minister in September 2023. Although the coup was condemned internationally, it was met with public support domestically due to long-standing grievances related to dynastic rule, electoral manipulation, and political repression. Freedom House categorizes Gabon as a not free nation. While democracies are occasionally established in the wake of coups, emerging authoritarian regimes seem to bring higher levels of state-sanctioned violence and human rights abuses.
Since the coup, Gabon has experienced continued human rights violations by both former regime elements and transitional authorities. Security forces have engaged in arbitrary arrests, including detention of journalists, union leaders, and political opponents. They have reportedly imposed curfews during the transition, which are reportedly enforced through excessive force, including extrajudicial killings. Restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression remain in place, and judicial independence has been further weakened under military oversight.
More recently, a long history of so-called “ritual murders,” including the December 2023 killing of a 13-year-old boy, has intensified public fear and social tension. In response, President Oligui Nguema announced plans to consult the population on reinstating the death penalty, which had been abolished in 2010. This proposal reflects a securitized and punitive response to criminal violence and risks further erosion of rule-of-law protections during an already fragile transition.
Internationally, the Commonwealth of Nations suspended Gabon following the August 2023 coup, calling for restoration of democratic governance and credible elections within two years. Gabon’s partial suspension was lifted in July 2025 after the Commonwealth assessed the April 2025 presidential election demonstrated sufficient progress toward restoring democratic governance. Nevertheless, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group encouraged continued engagement on the rule of law and democratic norms.
Due to Gabon exhibiting early warning indicators including political classification, repression of opposition, and the normalization of state violence, Genocide Watch considers Gabon to be at Stage 1: Classification, Stage 2: Symbolization, and Stage 3: Discrimination.
Genocide Watch recommends:
Gabon’s leadership should hold presidential and legislative elections by August 2025 under an electoral framework which guarantees opposition participation and international monitoring.
Gabon’s security forces should put an end to mass arrests following political protects, including the practice of detained opposition supporters after election announcements.
A U.N. organized independent fact-finding mission should investigate and prosecute Gabon’s security force abuses linked to the 2016 election violence and post-2023 coup enforcement action.
Gabon’s security forces should cease intimidating, arresting, and detaining journalists during political unrest.
The Commonwealth of Nations should maintain international pressure through prolonged suspension until civilian rule, juridical independence, and civil liberties are restored.
