Gabon Shows Strong Support for New Constitution in Recent Referendum

Gabon’s military junta has announced that the new constitution has passed with 91.8% approval in a recent referendum. The constitution limits presidents to two seven-year terms, excludes any dynastic transfers of power, and sets citizenship requirements for presidential candidates. Voter turnout was reported at 53.54%, with some critics labeling the process as a façade for dictatorship. The situation remains fluid as final results will be confirmed by the constitutional court.

Gabon’s military junta declared that its new constitution has received overwhelming approval, with provisional results indicating that 91.8% of voters supported it during a recent referendum. Approximately 860,000 registered voters participated, encouraged by government campaigns across various media platforms. The new constitution introduces a maximum of two seven-year presidential terms, eliminates the position of prime minister, and disallows dynastic succession in leadership roles.

The reported voter turnout was 53.54%, a drop from previous estimates of 71%. Voting occurred across 2,835 polling stations nationwide, without serious incidents reported. To ensure security during the electoral process, the junta extended a nighttime curfew.

The constitution mandates that presidential candidates be exclusively Gabonese with at least one Gabon-born parent and a Gabonese spouse, thereby disallowing former President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who is married to a French citizen, from future candidacy. Transitional President Brice Oligui Nguema described the referendum as a significant advancement for the nation, emphasizing transparency in the voting process.

Amidst heavy propaganda in support of the new constitution, some citizens expressed concerns regarding its implications. Nathalie Badzoko, a civil servant, voiced her endorsement without fully understanding the details, while attorney Marlene Fabienne Essola Efountame criticized it as a mechanism for creating a dictator. Opponents fear that the constitution serves the interests of those in power, echoing concerns over past governance shortcomings.

The referendum’s transparency has been challenged, with prior international observers absent during the August 2023 presidential election. As a litmus test for the new government, citizens await the final results from the constitutional court. According to an Afrobarometer survey, public sentiment towards the direction of Gabon is relatively positive despite high levels of unemployment and concerns about living costs.

Alleviating public anxiety regarding governance, over 46% of respondents expressed considerable confidence in Oligui, who is anticipated to be a frontrunner in the upcoming presidential election in August 2025. The new constitution may thus be pivotal in shaping Gabon’s political landscape moving forward.

Gabon is a central African nation rich in oil reserves, which has experienced political instability and military coups in recent years, notably the overthrow of President Ali Bongo Ondimba. The military junta that took power aims to establish a new constitutional framework deemed necessary for a more stable governance structure. The proposed constitution introduces restrictions on leadership eligibility and electoral processes, seeking to rectify past grievances tied to corruption, nepotism, and poor governance.

The approval of Gabon’s new constitution marks a critical juncture in the nation’s political evolution, potentially reshaping its leadership dynamics. While the junta positions this development as a step towards democratic reforms, skepticism remains regarding its true intentions. Ongoing public confidence toward transitional president Oligui may influence the political climate, yet challenges such as unemployment and inflation persist as significant concerns among the electorate. The final endorsement of the constitution will be determined by the constitutional court and may define Gabon’s trajectory for years to come.

Original Source: www.tiogapublishing.com