Ali Bongo claims leadership of Gabon's Democratic Party

Former Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba has declared his intention to remain the leader of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), the party founded by his late father, Omar Bongo Ondimba. Speaking from France, Bongo contested the legitimacy of the current party directorate led by Blaise Louembe, asserting that he never resigned from his position.

Bongo claimed that his previous announcement in September 2024 regarding his permanent withdrawal from politics was made under duress while he was under house arrest. He stated, “Today I am free, and my word is free too. So I tell you clearly and calmly: I am not giving up political life.”

To resolve the leadership dispute, Bongo has called for an inclusive party congress to formalize his status. He noted that he previously invited Louembe and two other officials to a meeting in Paris to seek a negotiated solution, but the invitation reportedly went unanswered.