Gabon improves its democratic standing in V-Dem Institute's global ranking

While still a low ranking, this marks the first time in years the country has not regressed, instead showing progress. V-Dem has removed Gabon from the list of nations moving away from democracy and now classifies it among the few that are moving closer. The institute's 2026 report highlights Gabon as one of only three countries globally that could soon become progressing democracies, alongside Chad and South Korea.

This change is attributed to the elections held in 2025, which saw power transferred to civilians after coups in both Gabon and Chad. This progress is particularly notable given that democracy is losing ground globally, with 12 sub-Saharan African countries, including Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Togo, moving away from democratic principles this year. However, the report cautions that Gabon's democratic recovery is still fragile and needs to be sustained over time, as similar improvements in other countries, like Zambia, have not always lasted.