Gabon single women demand enforcement of military polygamy laws

In Gabon, a group of single women is publicly challenging President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema regarding the implementation of polygamy laws for high-ranking military officers.

According to representatives from the Association of Single Women, a 2024 regulation intended to allow senior officers and generals to take a second wife has not been effectively applied. The association claims that despite the legal provision, many officers remain monogamous, leading to frustration among single women who viewed the measure as a path toward marriage and social stability.

The movement has sparked significant debate on social media, blending social demands with provocative commentary. The women have pointed to President Oligui Nguema as an example, noting his own marital status involving two wives, and are calling for the law to be applied equally, stating that ‘no one is above the law.’