Gabon votes in referendum on new constitution after military coup last year

Transitional leader urges voters to backmost draught charter, which proposes changes that see statesmanlike word limits.

Gabon is voting successful a referendum connected whether to adopt a caller constitution that would pave nan measurement to antiauthoritarian norm aft nan subject deposed President Ali Bongo Ondimba past year, ending 55 years of norm by his family successful nan oil-rich nation.

An estimated 860,000 registered voters were expected to formed their ballots connected Saturday connected nan draught charter, which proposes sweeping changes successful nan Central African federation that could forestall dynastic norm and sets statesmanlike word limits.

The projected constitution needs much than 50 percent of votes to beryllium adopted.

“We person a day pinch history,” General Brice Oligui Nguema, nan transitional president who led nan coup past year, said successful a station connected societal media level X alongside a photograph of him successful civilian dress and shot cap, pinch a voting paper successful his hand.

Nguema has been urging voters to support nan caller constitution, which he says embodies nan subject government’s committedness to charting a caller people for Gabon.

He has promised to manus powerfulness backmost to civilians aft a two-year modulation but has made nary concealed of his desire to triumph nan statesmanlike predetermination scheduled for August 2025.

The referendum is seen arsenic a important first measurement arsenic nan state seeks to modulation to populist since Bongo’s ouster successful August 2023. He had governed since 2009, taking complete nan presidency from his father, Omar, who died that twelvemonth aft ruling nan state since 1967.

Bongo was overthrown moments aft being proclaimed nan victor successful an predetermination nan service and guidance declared fraudulent.

A caller constitution would present two-term limits connected nan presidency, region nan position of premier curate and recognise French arsenic Gabon’s moving language. It besides says family members cannot win a president.

The statesmanlike word would beryllium group astatine 7 years. The existent charter allows for five-year position renewable without limit.

Nathalie Badzoko, a 33-year-old civilian servant, told nan AFP news agency that she was voting “yes” and had religion successful nan subject government, but admitted she had “not publication nan full text” and its 173 articles.

Opponents dismissed nan draught charter arsenic tailor-made for a strongman to stay successful power.

“We are creating a dictator who designs nan constitution for himself,” lawyer Marlene Fabienne Essola Efountame said during a statement past Sunday, organised by authorities television.

Nguema, nan interim leader, is simply a relative of Bongo. He had served arsenic a bodyguard to Bongo’s begetter and besides headed nan Gabonese Republican Guard, an elite subject unit.

Voting began precocious astatine respective polling stations successful nan capital, Libreville, including astatine nan Lycee Leon M’Ba schoolhouse wherever greenish – for yes – and reddish – for nary – ballot papers were still being handed retired erstwhile nan polls opened astatine 7am (06:00 GMT), according to AFP.

The country’s 2,835 polling stations are owed to stay unfastened until 6pm (17:00 GMT).

The last results will beryllium announced by nan law court, nan Interior Ministry said.

The erstwhile French colony is simply a personnel of nan Organization of nan Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), but its lipid wealthiness is concentrated successful nan hands of a few. Nearly 40 percent of Gabonese aged 15 to 24 were retired of activity successful 2020, according to nan World Bank.

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Al Jazeera and news agencies