Voters in Gabon have overwhelmingly approved a constitutional referendum that is set to facilitate a return to democratic governance in the country.
Provisional results announced on Sunday by the interior minister, Hermann Immongault, indicated that over 91% of the participants supported the proposed changes, while a minority of 8.20% cast their votes against the measure.
The overall voter turnout was reported at 53.5%, which corresponds to approximately 460,000 out of the 860,000 eligible voters in the nation.
The results of the referendum are still subject to validation by the Constitutional Court in the coming days, ensuring that the process adheres to legal standards.
This referendum, conducted on Saturday, was particularly significant as it sought public support for a new constitution, which has been framed as an essential step toward the establishment of upcoming presidential elections.
One of the notable components of the proposed constitution is the abolishment of the prime minister’s position, which could streamline executive power.
It also introduces a seven-year presidential term that can be renewed once, altering the previous political structure.
This referendum follows a period of political upheaval in Gabon, as it comes just over a year after a faction of senior military officers deposed President Ali Bongo in a coup that took place in August 2023.
In the aftermath of the coup, General Brice Oligui Nguema, who was the commander of the Republican Guard, was appointed as the transitional president.
His rise to power marked the end of a 56-year period dominated by the Bongo family, which had held the presidency for multiple consecutive terms since the late 1960s.
The draft constitution proposed not only expands presidential powers—granting the president greater authority to appoint members of the judiciary and dissolve parliament—but also imposes restrictions on succession, specifying that family members of the sitting president are prohibited from inheriting the presidency.
Furthermore, it sets criteria for presidential candidates, mandating that they must have at least one parent who is Gabonese-born and must not hold any other nationality.
In the wake of Bongo’s removal, military authorities took major steps, including the dissolution of existing institutions and the establishment of a transitional parliament, with promises of a two-year transition period intended to reshape the country’s political landscape.
The next presidential elections are slated to take place in August 2025, and it is anticipated that General Nguema will be a candidate in these polls, further shaping the future of Gabonese governance.
