Gabon’s current leader, Brice Oligui Nguema, who assumed office following the military-led removal of the Bongo family after nearly six decades in power, announced the formation of a new political movement on Saturday.
The newly created party, named the Democratic Union of Builders (UDB), is positioned as a collective platform aimed at redefining Gabon’s political and social framework after what has been described as a significant electoral win that marked the end of over 50 years of governance by the Bongo political establishment.
A statement released by the party outlines its mission and guiding principles, stating that UDB represents a unified commitment to rebuilding the relationship between the Gabonese state and its citizens. It described the party’s “motto—“inclusion, development, happiness”—as ”a reflection of its core goal to bring together the nation, implement widespread reforms, and raise the overall standard of living for its population.
President Nguema, formerly a high-ranking military official, took control of the government in August 2023 when he led a coup that ousted then-President Ali Bongo Ondimba. Bongo, who succeeded his father Omar Bongo, had been in office for 14 years, extending the family’s political dominance that began in 1967.
Following the transitional period, Nguema was declared the winner of the country’s presidential election in April, securing a reported 95 percent of the vote. The UDB’s launch signals his intention to establish a structured political apparatus as he transitions from military ruler to elected head of state.
The unveiling ceremony of the party attracted thousands of attendees, including several notable figures who once held key positions within the previous Bongo-led government. Their presence suggests a shift in allegiance as Gabon’s political scene undergoes reorganization.
The Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), once the ruling party under the Bongo regime, had maintained a stronghold over national politics for decades. Nguema, in his address to party supporters, signaled a departure from the traditional political playbook of the PDG.
Reflecting on the country’s political past, Nguema remarked that for decades, political actors were often manipulated by their parties, which reduced genuine governance to partisan interests. He stated his refusal to replicate such models and affirmed that his new party would not become a tool for manipulating the electoral process or public sentiment.
He emphasized that the UDB will implement a system of internal democracy where candidates seeking public office will have to emerge through primaries rather than imposition. Nguema described this approach as vital to ensuring accountability and promoting merit-based political participation across all levels of government.
As Gabon moves forward, the launch of the Democratic Union of Builders appears to be part of Nguema’s broader strategy to shape a new political identity for the country — one that, at least in principle, distances itself from the decades of concentrated power under the Bongo family.
What you should know
Brice Oligui Nguema, the Gabonese leader who ended the Bongo family’s 56-year political dominance, has launched the Democratic Union of Builders (UDB) to support his reform agenda. The party promotes inclusion, development, and happiness and seeks to operate on democratic principles, including primaries for candidate selection.
