Gabon: Country Profile

Research & Recommendations

Freedom in the World 2026

PR Political Rights	5 40
CL Civil Liberties	20 60

Last Year's Score & Status

21 100 Not Free

A country or territory’s Freedom in the World status depends on its aggregate Political Rights score, on a scale of 0–40, and its aggregate Civil Liberties score, on a scale of 0–60. See the methodology.

Overview

Former president Ali Bongo Ondimba succeeded his father Omar in 2009 and maintained political dominance for years through a combination of patronage and repression. He was removed from office by a coup in 2023. Presidential and legislative polls held in 2025 signaled a return to electoral politics, though most legislators supported the winning presidential candidate, Brice Oligui Nguema, who led the 2023 coup and had exerted concerning influence as Gabon’s transitional president. Significant problems persist, including discrimination against immigrants, marginalization of ethnic minority groups, and legal and de facto inequality for women.

Read the full Gabon Report

Previous Reports: 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026

Freedom in the World 2026 Policy Recommendations

Read all recommendations

Strengthen democratic coordination and collective action in a contested global order

Democratic resilience will increasingly depend on stronger coordination among countries that share a commitment to freedom, the rule of law, and accountable governance.

Reimagine international democracy assistance to help reverse the global decline in freedom

International support for democratic institutions, civil society, and independent media has been associated with modest but meaningful improvements in democratic governance, and it is far less costly than the military outlays necessitated by rising authoritarian aggression.

Prioritize engagement with younger generations in the digital spaces where civic identity is now formed

Young people are increasingly dissatisfied with democracy—not because they reject its principles, but because they see institutions failing to deliver on them. Programmatic work should create clear pathways for meaningful political participation, from voting and policy engagement to community organizing and public leadership, so that young people can translate their expectations into agency.