(Commonwealth)__The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) has published the final report on Gabon’s Presidential Election 2025 and the short-term and long-term recommendations for Gabon’s democracies to be strengthened. The report identifies that Gabon was in a state of political transition during the election and advocates institution-building and capacity-building reforms to make democratic gains irreversible.
A twinned process of reform
The Observer Group has suggested a twin-track approach to reform. In the near term, it is suggested that urgent action should permit future parliamentary and local council elections later in the year to be transparent and credible. In the longer term, it is thought that reforms are needed to support the building of strong democratic institutions that can carry out electoral processes efficiently and honestly.
This two-track strategy identifies Gabon’s immediate needs in the immediate near future and also recognises the need to lay foundations for future long-term democratic governance. The Group stresses that unless, in the short term, immediate action is taken with urgency, dangers of deviations from norms in the following elections are real. In the meantime, more significant institutional changes will have to be made to dislodge entrenched structural vulnerabilities that might otherwise interfere with democratic consolidation over the longer term.
Weakening Control over Elections and Referendums
The report quotes one of the most important sectors, that is, the position of the Election and Referendum Control Authority (ACER). Its establishment was regarded as a giant leap in the right direction towards institutionalising the electoral watchdog role. The report did state, however, that ACER’s obligation to enforce compliance with the electoral law and regulations must be bolstered substantially before it could implement its mandate to the letter.
The Group has therefore established a series of reforms to enhance the effectiveness of ACER. These include providing its members with comprehensive training in the Electoral Code so that they learn well, having them sit exams so that they become very conversant with relevant laws, and extending their term of office such that they can perform better. These are reforms that are considered necessary to make ACER an institution that can foster public trust as well as conduct its affairs professionally and independently. The value for stakeholders in the election is significant.
The report also praised the stakeholders’ efforts, resulting in a fairly well-conducted presidential election. The officials conducting the elections had also been commended for their commitment towards making the voting exercise successful, considering the operational challenge of conducting an election in a state of transition. The police force, civil society, candidates, and media had also been singled out for commendation for their efforts to ensure order and transparency in the electoral process.
These acknowledgements are the foundation of the reality that even with issues, the election gained its tenacity from people’s and institutions’ readiness for the democratic process. These initiatives lead the way in fostering a culture of democracy and upholding the rule of law.
The report has wider implications
The issuance of the Commonwealth Observer Group report is a sign of the organization’s continued commitment to Gabon’s democratisation process. The recommendations contained within the report are not only intended to guide short-term planning towards future elections but also as a master plan for electoral institution-building in the longer term.
The report was draughted in Gabon, signed and finalised by Observer Group Chairperson, former Seychelles President Danny Faure, and the observers. It follows the first statement issued two days after the presidential election and captures the conclusions in a full set of reform recomme ndations.
The emphasis on both short-term measures and long-term institutional reform is in line with the Commonwealth’s vision of supporting its member states to make democratic practices stronger. By removing electoral administration vulnerabilities, bolstering the capacity of oversight institutions such as ACER, and ensuring genuine civil society participation, Gabon is able to take giant strides towards free and credible elections.
The 2025 Gabonese presidential election was a milestone on the journey towards Gabon’s political evolution. The Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group incorporates short- and longer-term recommendations that can solidify democratic practice. With the implementation of these recommendations, Gabon is not only going to provide increased legitimacy to its upcoming parliamentary and local elections but also lay down foundations for more robust institutions that facilitate long-term democratic governance.
