Gabon prepares to vote on new constitution in historic referendum post-Bongo dynasty: Video
Ballot boxes were transported across Gabon on Saturday as the nation prepared to vote on a new constitution—a referendum the ruling military junta describes as a "major turning point" following the ousting of the Bongo dynasty.
Military trucks loaded with ballot boxes headed to polling stations nationwide, setting the stage for the vote that will decide the future framework of Gabon’s political landscape, the AFP reports.
This constitutional referendum represents a critical step toward the junta's pledge to transition to civilian rule, ending 55 years of the Bongo family's dominance. Gabon's 860,000 registered voters are presented with two options: a green ballot to vote "yes" for the new constitution or a red one to vote "no."
Authorities have mobilised extensive public outreach via television, radio, and social media, urging citizens to participate in this historic vote.
In order to ensure access, the government declared a two-day public holiday leading up to the vote and implemented measures allowing voters to switch polling locations to accommodate travel and weather concerns during the rainy season.
Key provisions of the new constitution
The proposed constitution outlines a two-term, seven-year presidential tenure, eliminates the prime minister role, and bans dynastic transfers of power. It mandates that presidential candidates be exclusively Gabonese, requiring at least one parent born in Gabon and a Gabonese spouse.
According to the military leadership, this is part of its vision to bring stability and transparency to the oil-rich Central African nation.
The coup
This vote follows the August 2023 coup that unseated President Ali Bongo Ondimba shortly after he was declared the winner of an election widely denounced as fraudulent by opposition leaders and the army.
Bongo, who ruled for 14 years, had assumed office following the death of his father, Omar Bongo, who held power for over four decades. Allegations of corruption, embezzlement, and misgovernance plagued the Bongo administration, fueling public discontent and support for the junta's intervention.
General Brice Oligui Nguema, the head of the ruling military junta, has pledged to transition back to civilian rule within two years, with presidential elections slated for August 2025.
While Oligui has openly expressed ambitions to contest that election, the new constitutional framework aims to ensure a fairer, more transparent political system.
