The Union du Peuple Gabonais (UPG) entered a new chapter on Thursday, June 25, 2026, in Libreville. During a highly anticipated extraordinary congress, Marie Joselle Itsana was elected as party president, making history as the first woman to lead this iconic political formation.
The vote was extremely close, reflecting lively internal debates. Out of 43 ballots cast, Itsana secured 23 votes, narrowly defeating her opponent Roger Mouloungui, who garnered 20.
The challenge of unity and refoundation
Far from denying the divisions that marked the congress, the new president chose to turn them into a unifying force. “Our congress expressed different sensitivities, sometimes divergent opinions. That proves our party is alive,” she stated, accepting her victory with humility and seriousness in the face of the great task ahead.
For Itsana, cohesion is now the priority. Aware of past tensions that weakened the movement, she made a strong call to end clan warfare. Her message is clear: turn the page on internal divisions and begin a collective rebuilding.
Becoming a major political force again
The new president aims to restore UPG to its former prominence in Gabon’s political landscape. The roadmap is ambitious: rebuild the party’s territorial presence across the country while promoting a project centered on sovereignty, justice, transparency, and development.
An inheritance to honor, a youth to mobilize
Looking to the future, Itsana paid tribute to the party’s historical figures, especially its founding president, the late Pierre Mamboundou, and militants who fell for democracy. “We must be worthy of the heritage we received and responsible for what we will pass on,” she emphasized.
Finally, she called on the new generation of activists to actively engage in future strategic decisions, stating that a new phase for UPG begins “today and now.”
