Gabon: The decision made by former president Ali Bongo

On the occasion of Gabon's 66th Independence Day, August 17, 2026, Ali Bongo Ondimba delivered a forward-looking message, calling on Gabonese citizens to overcome divisions and "maintain confidence." The former president also announced that he would not seek another term in office.

“I will no longer seek national office,” he declared. After several decades at the helm of the state, Ali Bongo now says he wants to “serve differently” and put his experience to use for the benefit of a new generation. “My time is no longer one of personal conquest. My time is one of passing on knowledge,” he affirmed.

His withdrawal from the electoral race does not, however, signify the end of his political involvement. Ali Bongo still claims the presidency of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), which he asserts he has held since the 2009 congress. He contests the legitimacy of the leadership established in March 2024, which he considers contrary to the party statutes. He demands a return to internal legality and the holding of a regular congress.

The former head of state also advocates for a complete overhaul of the PDG, particularly through a reform of its statutes. He wants the party presidency to be separated from the nomination of the presidential candidate, in order to encourage the emergence of new political figures.

Reflecting on the period following the coup d'état of August 30, 2023, and the divisions within his former party, Ali Bongo now prioritizes unity. His message, delivered from abroad where he is receiving medical treatment, boils down to one conviction: "Gabon is greater than all of us."

Through this new stance, the former president says he is turning the page on the personal conquest of power, without giving up on influencing the future of the PDG and the transfer to a new generation of political leaders.