Brice Oligui Nguema, the military leader who led Gabon’s August 2023 coup, has officially launched a new political party — the Democratic Union of Builders (UDB) — marking a significant shift in the country’s political direction and a move to end the legacy of Bongo family dominance
The new party was unveiled on Saturday during a well-attended inaugural congress, with thousands of supporters and even some former loyalists of the ousted regime in attendance. In its founding declaration, the UDB said it aims to “rebuild the Gabonese social contract” and usher in a new era of inclusion, progress, and prosperity.
The party stated: “UDB embodies a shared desire to rebuild Gabon after the brilliant presidential victory that ended over 50 years of government by the Bongo dynasty. Its motto — inclusion, development, happiness — conveys a simple ambition: to unite, transform, and elevate Gabon.”
Nguema, who won the April 2025 presidential election with nearly 95 percent of the vote, has positioned the UDB as a reformist force. Despite the overwhelming result, international observers reported no significant irregularities, giving the outcome a measure of credibility.
In his speech, Nguema emphasized his intention to distance himself from past political practices. “The country went through 50 years of politics where leaders were instrumentalized by their parties. I don’t want to indoctrinate anyone or create a party that manipulates elections,” he said.
He also announced plans to introduce internal party primaries, allowing members to democratically choose candidates — a clear departure from Gabon’s historically centralized power structures.
With the creation of UDB, Nguema seeks to reshape Gabonese politics and build a platform that prioritizes national unity and citizen-driven governance, as the country moves forward from decades of one-party rule under the Bongo-led Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG).
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