Gabon’s interim president, Brice Oligui Nguema, will compete against three other candidates in the country’s presidential election scheduled for April 12.

The interior minister released the official list of candidates on Sunday, a day after the application deadline. While 19 aspirants were disqualified, they have 72 hours to appeal the decision at the Constitutional Court.

Nguema took power in a 2023 military coup that ended the long-standing rule of Ali Bongo and his family.

His potential candidacy had been a topic of debate, especially after a new constitution, approved through a referendum last year, did not prohibit him from running. The military authorities have described the new charter as a step toward democratic governance.

Among his challengers, Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze, the last Prime Minister under Ali Bongo, is seen as his strongest competitor. The race also includes Dr. Stéphane Germain Iloko, a former executive of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), which held power from 1961 to 2023. The fourth contender, Joseph Lapensée Essigone, is a lawyer and tax inspector.

All four candidates are running as independents, with official campaigning set to begin on March 29.