Gabon held a referendum on a new constitution on Saturday, marking a significant step toward democratic governance following last year’s coup that ended the Bongo dynasty’s long rule. However, some observers worry the junta could leverage the process to extend its grip on power.
The proposed constitution introduces a two-term limit for the presidency, with each term lasting seven years, eliminates the role of prime minister, and officially designates French as Gabon’s working language, Reuters reported.
General Brice Oligui Nguema, Gabon’s interim president who came to power in last year’s coup, has framed the constitutional referendum as a key milestone in the country’s democratic transition. Encouraging citizens to vote, he praised the process as transparent after voting in the capital, Libreville.
“This is something that I note, and it’s positive. A huge step for the transition,” he said after casting his vote in the capital.
In the lead-up to the referendum, posters urging support for the proposed changes were prominently displayed across Libreville. While voting stations were quiet in the early hours of Saturday, turnout increased steadily as the day progressed.
Military officers toppled Gabon’s government in August 2023, ending over five decades of Bongo family rule. Ali Bongo, ousted in the coup, had been in power since 2009, following his father Omar Bongo’s 41-year presidency.
Since 2020, West and Central Africa have seen eight coups, including Gabon’s, sparking calls from Western powers and regional organizations for a quick transition to civilian rule. Last year, the junta pledged to hold elections by August 2025. The constitutional referendum marks a key step towards fulfilling this pledge for democratic reforms.
However, concerns persist about the impartiality of the process. While transitional leaders are officially barred from contesting the presidency, an exception has been made for interim President General Brice Oligui Nguema. Rukmini Sanyal of the Economist Intelligence Unit noted that while the new constitution introduces some checks on power, it largely consolidates authority in the president’s hands.
