Gabon’s transitional leader, Brice Oligui Nguema, has emerged victorious in the country’s presidential election, securing 90.35 percent of the vote, according to provisional results released by the interior ministry on Sunday, April 13, 2025.

Oligui, who seized power in August 2023 by ending over 50 years of Bongo family rule, had promised to guide the Central African nation back to democratic governance.

Saturday’s election marked a significant milestone as citizens turned out in large numbers—70.4 percent participation—to elect a new leader.

Unlike the unrest that followed Gabon’s previous elections in 2016 and 2023, the atmosphere in Libreville, the capital, remained calm after the vote.

State broadcaster Gabon 24 had earlier reported that Oligui held a strong lead in multiple provinces.

“I hadn’t voted in a long time, but this time, I saw a ray or something that made me go out and vote,” said 58-year-old Catholic Olivina Migombe as she headed to church on Sunday.

“I believe in change this time,” she added.

Oligui, who previously wore a general’s uniform, has made efforts to distance himself from his military image, contesting the election as a civilian seeking a seven-year term.

His main challenger, Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze—a former prime minister under ousted President Ali Bongo—garnered just 3.02 percent, while six other candidates failed to cross the 1 percent mark.

Although Oligui dominated the campaign, critics argue that his ties to the former regime have hindered genuine reforms.

Many citizens remain skeptical about whether he can steer Gabon away from its deep-rooted issues—ranging from poverty and poor infrastructure to mounting national debt—despite its abundant oil resources.

“I hope he works hard for the people,” said Patrick Essono-Mve, an unemployed 48-year-old technician on his way to mass.

The election, which was closely monitored by international observers, proceeded without major incidents.

For the first time, foreign and independent media were permitted to film ballot counts, adding a layer of transparency to the process.

Roughly 920,000 registered voters cast their ballots across 3,037 polling stations, including 96 located abroad.

Early results from CTRI News showed Oligui securing unanimous support at several locations, some reporting 100 percent of votes in his favor.

Oligui’s landslide victory ushers in a new chapter for Gabon, but the weight of expectations now rests on his shoulders as the nation watches to see if true change will follow the polls.

Hamas has expressed readiness to release all Israeli hostages, provided there are firm guarantees that Israel will end its military campaign in Gaza.

In ongoing negotiations in Cairo—mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States—a senior Hamas official, Taher al-Nunu, emphasized the group’s willingness to exchange captives for a ceasefire agreement and other humanitarian considerations.

“We are ready to release all Israeli captives in exchange for a serious prisoner swap deal, an end to the war, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the entry of humanitarian aid,” al-Nunu told AFP.

He, however, blamed Israel for derailing the ceasefire efforts, saying, “The issue is not the number of captives, but rather that the occupation is reneging on its commitments, blocking the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and continuing the war.”

“Hamas has therefore stressed the need for guarantees to compel the occupation (Israel) to uphold the agreement,” al-Nunu added.

According to a report by Israeli news outlet Ynet, a new proposal has been submitted to Hamas.

Under this plan, the group would release 10 living hostages in exchange for U.S. guarantees that Israel would proceed to a second phase of negotiations toward a broader ceasefire.

The initial phase of the ceasefire began on January 19, featuring several hostage-prisoner exchanges, and held for two months before collapsing.

Progress on a renewed truce remains elusive, with contention surrounding the number of hostages Hamas is expected to free.

Al-Nunu also made it clear that disarmament is off the table.

“The weapons of the resistance are not up for negotiation,” he stated.

The conflict reignited after Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of 1,218 people, primarily civilians, based on AFP’s tally of Israeli figures.

During the attack, 251 hostages were taken; 58 are reportedly still in captivity, including 34 who, according to the Israeli military, have died.

Meanwhile, Gaza’s health ministry reported that at least 1,574 Palestinians have died since March 18, when the most recent ceasefire collapsed.

This brings the total death toll in Gaza to 50,944 since the war began.

The Russian Defence Ministry has reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces suffered significant losses in the past day along the Kursk axis, with no fewer than 235 personnel killed within 24 hours.

In a statement issued on Monday, the ministry detailed the extent of the losses Ukraine has allegedly sustained in that region.

“In total, Ukraine has lost more than 74,245 service people and 406 tanks during the offensive in the Kursk direction,” the statement read.

Providing a breakdown of the most recent casualties, the ministry added that within the last 24 hours alone, Ukraine lost up to 235 service members, an armored personnel carrier, three combat armored vehicles, 14 vehicles, and four pieces of field artillery.

“Others include four mortars and a BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system,” the ministry stated.

The update is part of Russia’s ongoing daily briefings on the conflict, which have become a key part of its information strategy during the war.