Raphaël Edzang to take the helm of the RPG on 27 June

Following his election as party president on 21 February, Raphaël Edzang will formally assume leadership of the Rassemblement pour le Gabon (RPG) this Saturday, 27 June. The handover ceremony is scheduled to take place at the party’s headquarters located in the Petit Paris district of Libreville.

A new vision for the RPG

The investiture ceremony will serve as a platform for the incoming president to outline his strategic vision. He is expected to set the course for the party’s future and address critical national issues currently shaping the political landscape in Gabon.

Under the leadership of the new team succeeding Laurent Angué Mezui, the party has adopted a bold new mantra: “The RPG is change, and change is now.” This slogan reflects Raphaël Edzang’s commitment to revitalizing the political organization by prioritizing transparency, national development, and a closer connection to the needs of the population.

The objective is clear: to restore the RPG as a major force of proposition and a central player in the country’s political life.

Profile of the new leader

An economist by training, Raphaël Edzang is a seasoned high-ranking civil servant. Born on 25 October 1970 in Ellelem 1, within the Woleu Ntem province, he has built a distinguished career in public service. Notably, he served as the Director of public procurement at the General Directorate of Public Procurement (DGMP).

His political journey within the RPG began in 2009, when he served as a mission officer for the party president. Since then, he has remained a loyal member, representing the party as a candidate in the legislative elections of 2011, 2018, 2023, and 2025.

Historical context of the RPG

Established in the late 1990s by Paul Mba Abessole following a split in the Rassemblement national des bucherons (RNB), the RPG has a complex political history. After years as a formidable opposition force, the party eventually joined the presidential majority during the era of Omar Bongo Ondimba, a leader it had previously challenged with intensity.