Five by-elections were held in Gabon on 6 June. They were significant, so Jeune Afrique reports, because four of the seats concerned members of the former ruling party, the Parti démocratique gabonais (PDG), who are now members of the opposition. After last year’s contested presidential election (see posts below), this was the first test of the opposition’s popularity. The opposition candidates were standing under the banner of the Union nationale (UN).

Gaboneco reports that two of the seats were won by the UN and two by the PDG. Former PM, now UN leader, Jean Eyeghe Ndong, won in Libreville. Also, former Interior Minister and third-placed candidate at last year’s presidential election, André Mba Obame, also won under the UN banner. However, two other UN candidates lost heavily. In the first contest the PDG narrowly defeated a minor opposition party.

The PDG has 83 of the 120 seats in the National Assembly.