Code of conduct in Gabon paves way for peaceful 2025 elections

Following Gabon’s transitional period after the annulment of the country’s 2023 general elections, International IDEA urged the presidential candidates to sign the country’s first voluntary code of conduct—the Code of Good Conduct for the Candidates for Peaceful Presidential Elections in Gabon. Despite initial mistrust, the initiative helped foster a more peaceful electoral environment and inspired similar practices ahead of subsequent legislative and local elections.

Following the overthrow of former President Ali Bongo Ondimba and the annulment of the 2023 general elections, Gabon entered a transitional period aimed at restoring public institutions and returning to constitutional order. As preparations for the 2025 presidential election gathered pace, national stakeholders expressed concerns about political polarization, inflammatory rhetoric and the risk of election-related tensions, while also identifying the need to strengthen the transparency and credibility of electoral processes. In this context, national authorities requested that International IDEA provide technical assistance to strengthen electoral integrity and build the capacity of key electoral actors.

Overseen by respected moral guarantors, the voluntary code of conduct contributed to a notably calm electoral environment, with the 12 April 2025 presidential election taking place without major incidents. The initiative became a reference point for subsequent legislative and local elections, inspiring similar measures introduced by Gabonese institutions later in 2025.