Marie Joselle Itsana elected first female president of UPG in Gabon historic shift

The Union du Peuple Gabonais (UPG) enters a new era. On Thursday, 25 June 2026, in Libreville, a highly anticipated extraordinary congress concluded with the election of Marie Joselle Itsana as party president. This milestone makes her the first woman to lead this iconic political formation.

The vote was extremely close, reflecting lively internal debate. Out of 43 ballots cast, Marie Joselle Itsana secured 23 votes, narrowly defeating her rival Roger Mouloungui, who received 20.

The challenge of unity and renewal

Far from ignoring the divisions that surfaced during the congress, the new president chose to turn them into a rallying force. “Our congress expressed different sensibilities, sometimes divergent opinions. That is proof our party is alive,” she declared, accepting her victory with humility and a sense of gravity regarding the task ahead.

For Marie Joselle Itsana, the immediate priority is cohesion. Aware of the tensions that have weakened the movement in the past, she made a vibrant call to end clan rivalries. Her mantra is clear: turn the page on internal divisions to embark on collective reconstruction.

Regaining a major political force

The new president aims to restore the UPG to the prominent position it once held in Gabon’s political landscape. To achieve this, the roadmap is ambitious. It includes rebuilding the party’s territorial base nationwide while championing a project focused on sovereignty, justice, transparency, and development.

Honoring a legacy, mobilizing youth

While looking to the future, Marie Joselle Itsana paid tribute to the party’s historical figures, starting with its emblematic founder, the late Pierre Mamboundou, and militants who fell for democracy. “We must be worthy of the legacy we have received and responsible for the one we will pass on,” she stressed.

Turning to the future, she invited the new generation of activists to actively engage in upcoming strategic choices, stating that a new phase begins “today and now” for the UPG.