Marie Joselle Itsana takes the helm of upg in historic victory

The Union du Peuple Gabonais (UPG) has embarked on a new chapter. On Thursday, 25 June 2026 in Libreville, during a highly anticipated extraordinary congress, Marie Joselle Itsana was elected party president. This milestone marks a historic first: she becomes the first woman ever to lead this iconic political movement.

The vote proved exceptionally tight, reflecting the intensity of internal debates. Out of 43 ballots cast, Marie Joselle Itsana secured 23 votes, narrowly defeating her rival Roger Mouloungui, who garnered 20.

The challenge of unity and rebuilding

Far from downplaying the divisions exposed during the congress, the new president chose to turn them into a rallying force. “Our congress expressed different sensitivities, sometimes divergent opinions. That shows our party is alive,” the leader stated, accepting her victory with humility tinged with seriousness about the magnitude of the task ahead.

For Marie Joselle Itsana, the immediate priority is cohesion. Aware of the infighting that has weakened the movement in the past, she issued a strong call to end clan wars. Her motto is clear: turn the page on internal divisions to launch a collective reconstruction.

Restoring a leading political role

The new president’s ambition is to restore the UPG to the prominent position it once held on Gabon’s political scene. To achieve this, the roadmap is dense. It includes rebuilding the party’s grassroots presence across the entire country while championing a project firmly focused on sovereignty, justice, transparency, and development.

A legacy to honor, a youth to mobilize

While looking to the future, Marie Joselle Itsana also paid tribute to the party’s historic figures, starting with its iconic founder, the late Pierre Mamboundou, as well as militants who fell for democracy. “We must prove worthy of the legacy we have received and responsible for the one we will pass on,” she insisted.

Turning finally to the future, she invited the new generation of activists to actively engage in upcoming strategic choices, declaring that a new phase begins “today and now” for the UPG.