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

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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

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