Gabonese voters have overwhelmingly approved a new constitution in a referendum held on Saturday, with more than 91% of participants supporting the reforms, according to Interior Minister Hermann Immongault. The referendum saw a voter turnout of 53.54%, reflecting significant public engagement in the process.
The approval of the constitution comes more than a year after the military seized power in the oil-rich nation following a coup that ousted President Ali Bongo. Under the leadership of interim President Brice Oligui Nguema, the military government has promised to transition the country toward full democratic governance by the summer of 2025.
The new constitution marks a substantial shift in Gabon’s political structure. It proposes the transition from the current semi-parliamentary system to a presidential regime, abolishing the position of Prime Minister and limiting the powers of the National Assembly, which will no longer be able to censure the government. The president will also gain the authority to dissolve the National Assembly once during their term.
In addition, the proposed constitution introduces a two-term limit for the presidency, each lasting seven years, with each term renewable only once, a significant change from the previous system, where the presidential term was five years with unlimited renewals.
The constitutional changes are seen as a step toward political reform after decades of rule by the Bongo family. Despite these reforms, the draft constitution does not prevent interim President Nguema from running for the presidency, which has raised concerns about the potential for continued military influence in Gabon’s future.
The final results will be officially confirmed by Gabon’s Constitutional Court in the coming days, solidifying the new constitutional framework for the country.
