Gabon: former presidential candidate warns against politicizing Oligui Nguema’s mandate

After months of silence, Dieudonné Minlama Mintogo, Gabon’s 2016 presidential candidate, has broken his public silence to issue a stark warning to the nation’s new leadership.

In a candid interview, he cautions that the greatest threat facing Gabon’s Fifth Republic is not economic instability or institutional fragility—but the political risk of reducing President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema’s sweeping electoral mandate into a tool for partisan advantage.

Minlama, who secured a notable share of votes in the 2016 presidential election, argues that the president’s overwhelming victory—garnering over 94% of ballots in April 2025—reflects a national consensus far broader than any single political faction.

Beyond party lines: a mandate forged in national unity

The former opposition leader emphasizes that the president’s mandate cannot be claimed by one political group alone. He views the vote as a resounding endorsement of the nation’s post-crisis renewal following the August 30, 2023 transition and subsequent restoration of constitutional order.

“To reduce this mandate to a partisan agenda would be a grave misstep,” he warns. He stresses that such a move could alienate the diverse coalition of citizens, civil society leaders, and political figures who rallied behind the transition and the ongoing process of national rebuilding.

Danger of a divided Republic

According to Minlama, President Oligui Nguema’s strength lies in his ability to unite disparate political currents under a shared vision: leaving behind the divisions of the past. The Transition, he notes, was supported by a broad spectrum of Gabonese who shared one goal—securing a fresh start for the country.

Any attempt to exclude key stakeholders could erode the unity that has defined the Fifth Republic’s early days. The real challenge ahead, he argues, is to maintain this spirit of inclusion by fostering a governance model that draws on the nation’s diverse talents, beyond party affiliations.

Honoring the spirit of August 30

At its core, Minlama’s message is a call for vigilance. He contends that the president’s historic mandate was granted because he was seen as a unifying figure, not as a representative of one political camp alone.

The success or failure of the Fifth Republic, he suggests, will hinge on the government’s ability to uphold this inclusive approach. He reminds authorities that the 94% electoral victory is not a blank check to be used for narrow political gains, but a profound responsibility to serve all Gabonese.