Gabon's EPG party challenges nationality code before Constitutional Court
via Gabon Review1 min read
The Ensemble pour le Gabon EPG party announced on April 23, 2026, that it has filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court to contest Ordinance No. 004/PR/2026 of February 26, 2026, concerning the Nationality Code. The party, led by former Prime Minister Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who is currently in pre-trial detention, argues that the ordinance undermines the principle of equality among citizens and risks creating national division. EPG states that the ordinance introduces an unprecedented differentiation among Gabonese citizens and contradicts fundamental constitutional principles. The party emphasizes that Gabonese nationality is "one and indivisible" and views any categorization attempt as a serious deviation incompatible with the rule of law. EPG warns that the text could lead to a "lasting fracture within the Nation" by opposing Gabonese citizens on grounds contrary to republican unity. The party calls on national stakeholders and the international community to remain vigilant. According to current provisions, the appeal to the Constitutional Court automatically suspends the ordinance's application until the court renders its decision.
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