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

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

A new vision for the RPG

The upcoming investiture will serve as a platform for the new president to present his strategic roadmap. Beyond outlining the party’s direction for the coming years, Raphaël Edzang is expected to address major national issues currently shaping the political landscape in Gabon.

Under the guidance of the new leadership team, which succeeds Laurent Angué Mezui, the party has adopted a resolute new slogan: “The RPG is change, and change is now.” This motto signals a desire to inject fresh energy into the political formation, with a core focus on integrity, national development, and staying attuned to the needs of the population.

The primary objective is to restore the RPG as a proactive force and a central player in the country’s political life.

The profile of a seasoned official

An economist by profession, Raphaël Edzang is a high-ranking civil servant 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 journey with the RPG began in 2009 when he served as a special assistant to 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 party

The RPG was established in the late 1990s by Paul Mba Abessole, emerging from the split of the Rassemblement national des bucherons (RNB). While it originally stood as a powerful opposition movement, the party eventually joined the presidential majority during the administration of Omar Bongo Ondimba, a leader it had previously challenged.