Marie Joselle Itsana elected first female leader of UPG in historic Gabon congress

The Union du Peuple Gabonais (UPG) has entered a new era. On Thursday, June 25, 2026, in Libreville, at a highly anticipated extraordinary congress, Marie Joselle Itsana was elected party president. This milestone marks her as the first woman to lead this iconic political formation.

The vote was extremely close, reflecting lively internal debates. Out of 43 ballots cast, Marie Joselle Itsana secured 23 votes, narrowly defeating rival Roger Mouloungui, who garnered 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 force for bringing people together. “Our congress expressed different sensibilities, sometimes divergent opinions. That proves our party is alive,” she stated, accepting her victory with humility and gravity given the scale of the task.

For Marie Joselle Itsana, cohesion is now the priority. Aware of the tensions that have weakened the movement in the past, she issued a passionate call to end clan rivalries. Her mantra is clear: move past internal divisions to embark on collective rebuilding.

Regaining major political influence

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

Honoring a legacy, mobilizing youth

While looking ahead, Marie Joselle 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 prove worthy of the legacy we have received and responsible for the one we will pass on,” she emphasized.

Finally, turning to the future, she invited the new generation of activists to actively engage in upcoming strategic decisions, declaring that a new phase begins “today and now” for the UPG.