GABON held a referendum on Saturday to decide on a new constitution that the ruling junta claims will close the chapter on 55 years of dynastic rule. The process is touted as a step towards democratic reform following the military coup that ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba.
The proposed changes include a two-term limit for the presidency, the elimination of the prime minister’s role, and stricter eligibility rules for presidential candidates, including a requirement for candidates to have exclusively Gabonese nationality, a Gabon-born parent, and a Gabonese spouse.
While the junta has portrayed the referendum as a symbol of progress, critics argue the reforms are tailored to cement its grip on power.
Polling began late in several locations across Libreville, with many stations still preparing materials after the official opening time of 7:00 am. Despite delays, turnout was reported to be steady, with voters casting either a green ballot for ‘yes’ or a red one for ‘no.’
To ensure security during the process, the junta extended the night curfew, now starting at midnight and ending at 5:00 am, although no specific end date for the measure was provided.
Soldiers closely monitored polling stations, and international observers—absent during the controversial 2023 presidential election—were invited to oversee the process.
Transitional president and junta leader Brice Oligui Nguema cast his vote at a local school, calling the referendum a ‘great step forward.’ Wearing civilian attire, Oligui emphasised the transparency of the process, but critics were sceptical.
Billboards featuring Oligui and encouraging a ‘yes’ vote dominated Libreville’s streets, leading some, like Union newspaper, to question whether the referendum doubles as an unofficial campaign for the 2025 presidential election.
Opponents of the draft constitution, such as lawyer Marlene Fabienne Essola Efountame, warned that it risks entrenching Oligui’s power. ‘We are creating a dictator who designs the constitution for himself,’ she said.
Many voters expressed cautious optimism. Nathalie Badzoko, a civil servant, said she was voting ‘yes’ but admitted she hadn’t read the full 173-article document. Others, like taxi driver Louembe Tchizinga, echoed her faith in the junta’s promises.
An Afrobarometer survey from October revealed mixed sentiments: 46 percent of respondents expressed strong confidence in Oligui, and 87 percent believed the country was moving in the right direction. However, concerns about unemployment, healthcare, infrastructure, security, and the cost of living remain prominent.
Provisional results from the referendum will be announced soon, with final approval resting with Gabon’s constitutional court. The outcome is seen as a litmus test for the junta’s credibility and the public’s trust in its transitional promises.
Oligui has pledged a return to civilian rule by August 2025, but observers question whether the reforms signify genuine change or merely consolidate his power. As Gabon navigates this pivotal moment, the international community and its citizens await the verdict with cautious anticipation.
