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By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) has lauded the peaceful, calm, and orderly conduct of Gabon’s presidential election which held on April 12, 2025.
The group also called for an enhanced citizen involvement in the nation’s electoral processes.
In its interim statement released in Libreville, the COG, led by the former President of Seychelles, Danny Faure, commended the atmosphere surrounding the vote.
The statement quoted Faure as saying “It is the view of the Commonwealth Observer Group that this election appeared largely transparent, was peaceful, and conducted in accordance with the established legislative framework of Gabon, and that citizens were able to freely exercise their franchise.”
He added, “We congratulate and commend the people of Gabon for exercising their right to vote and reaffirming their faith in the principles of democracy.”
The Group’s interim assessment advised the Gabonese government to foster greater civic participation in the electoral process. It suggested that this could be achieved by extending the periods dedicated to public awareness campaigns on voting and civic engagement, recognizing it as a fundamental constitutional right. The COG emphasized that enhanced civic participation would empower citizens to make well-informed decisions and engage more effectively in the democratic process.
The statement also acknowledged the positive development in Gabon’s media landscape, noting a reduction in state interference concerning editorial content experienced by media stakeholders. However, the COG called for the strict enforcement of equal airtime and urged that all candidates be granted access to traditional media outlets, particularly those owned by the government, to ensure a level playing field for all contenders.
Regarding the vote-counting process, the statement offered a word of caution. “While counting had barely commenced, there were already official projections of voter turnout and participation rates. The Group cautions on the communications of statistics before final verification as this could potentially undermine trust in the process.”
The interim report recommended a comprehensive post-election analysis and urged the establishment of a suitable, locally-driven mechanism to evaluate all recommendations put forth by both citizen and international observer missions, especially as Gabon prepares for upcoming legislative and municipal elections.
Prior to its departure, the COG will compile its final report, an independent assessment detailing its complete findings on the entire electoral process, accompanied by specific recommendations aimed at further enhancing Gabon’s electoral framework. This report will be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and subsequently shared with the Government of Gabon, the Ministry of Interior, and other relevant stakeholders, including the citizens of Gabon.