Gabon: Bongo-Oligui Nguema battle for control of PDG
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Gabonews
A battle is pitting Ali Bongo Ondimba against President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema for control of the Gabonese Democratic Party, the former ruling party, ahead of its 13th congress on 27 November. According to Gabonews, Oligui Nguema, who created the Democratic Union of Builders in July 2025, is breaking his silence on the PDG’s internal divisions.
Rivalry between former Gabonese president Ali Bongo Ondimba and Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema is crystallising around control of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), the former ruling party. In an opinion piece published on 12 November 2026, Gabonews describes a struggle for influence between the two camps, amid internal divisions within the party and political restructuring since the change of power on 30 August 2023.
Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema created the Democratic Union of Builders (UDB), his own political party, on 5 July 2025. According to Gabonews, its creation heightened tensions with PDG officials, some of whom had hoped to retain positions in the administration and institutions. The media outlet says the president limited the appointment of officials from the former ruling party, despite their efforts to maintain their influence.
The challenge to the PDG leadership has also emerged around the legitimacy of its representatives. On 31 October 2026, Onanga Y’Obegue had challenged the legitimacy of the PDG delegation. On 1 November, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema had received a delegation from the Gabonese Democratic Party.
