Following his election on February 21, Raphaël Edzang is set to formally take control of the Rassemblement pour le Gabon (RPG). The official handover ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 27, at the party’s headquarters located in the Petit Paris district of Libreville.
This investiture serves as a platform for the new leader to present his strategic vision for the coming years. Beyond setting a new course for the party founded by Paul Mba Abessole, Raphaël Edzang is expected to address critical issues currently shaping the national landscape.
A new era of political change
The incoming leadership team, which succeeds Laurent Angué Mezui, has introduced a fresh slogan: “The RPG is change, and change is now.” This motto reflects the new president’s ambition to breathe life back into the political organization by focusing on integrity, national progress, and a deeper alignment with the hopes of the population.
By spearheading this movement, Raphaël Edzang aims to re-establish the RPG as a proactive force and a central player in Gabon‘s political sphere.
Profile of the new RPG president
An economist by profession and a high-ranking civil servant, Raphaël Edzang was born on October 25, 1970, in Ellelem 1, located in the Woleu Ntem province. His professional background includes a significant tenure at the General Directorate of Public Procurement (DGMP), where he served as the Director of Public Procurement.
His political trajectory within the RPG began in 2009 when he was appointed as a special advisor to the party’s president. Since then, he has remained a committed figure within the ranks, standing as the party’s candidate in the legislative elections of 2011, 2018, 2023, and 2025.
The RPG was established in the late 1990s from the remnants of the Rassemblement National des Bucherons (RNB) after it split. Historically known as a powerful opposition movement, the party eventually transitioned into the presidential majority during the administration of Omar Bongo Ondimba, a leader it had previously challenged with intensity.
