Gabon’s democratic progress highlighted in V-Dem report

Gabon stands out as one of the few countries highlighted in the 2026 report from the Swedish institute Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) for its improving democratic trajectory. While many African nations are listed as backsliding democracies, Gabon is cited as a positive example, largely due to the restoration of constitutional order after the Transition and the holding of the 2025 elections.

A positive signal has emerged for democratic governance in Gabon. In its June 2026 report, V-Dem – a global benchmark for political system evaluation – removed Gabon from its list of countries experiencing democratic decline and placed it among the positive developments seen worldwide.

According to V-Dem data, Gabon now ranks 114th out of 179 countries assessed. While this position highlights significant remaining challenges, it nonetheless marks a break from recent years when the country was frequently linked with nations whose democratic indicators were worsening.

The 2025 elections highlighted by V-Dem

The report attributes this shift to institutional changes following the Transition, particularly the organization of the 2025 general elections and the return to civilian rule. According to V-Dem, these developments put Gabon among the small number of countries showing a democratic improvement dynamic. The report also mentions Lebanon, Mauritius and South Korea as positive international examples.

This positive assessment comes at a time when several sub-Saharan African countries continue to see their democratic indicators deteriorate, according to V-Dem.

While this trend is encouraging, it does not mean Gabon is now among the highest-ranked democracies. At 114th globally, the country still faces major challenges in governance, institutional consolidation, citizen participation and strengthening the rule of law.

The report also notes that democratic progress remains reversible, and several countries that previously improved later experienced a decline. In this context, the improvement noted by V-Dem appears more as a step than a final achievement.

An indicator monitored by international partners

V-Dem’s research is widely used by academics, international organizations, donors and diplomatic missions to track political system changes worldwide. For Gabon, this positive shift could help improve its image among international partners, especially as authorities signal their commitment to continuing the institutional reforms started since the political Transition that began on 30 August 2023.

The challenge now is to turn the momentum driven by President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema into lasting progress, so that future international assessments confirm Gabon’s path toward democratic consolidation.