Transitional chief urges voters to again draft constitution, which proposes adjustments that embody presidential time period limits.
Gabon is voting in a referendum on whether or not to undertake a brand new structure that might pave the best way to democratic rule after the navy deposed President Ali Bongo Ondimba final yr, ending 55 years of rule by his household within the oil-rich nation.
An estimated 860,000 registered voters had been anticipated to solid their ballots on Saturday on the draft constitution, which proposes sweeping adjustments within the Central African nation that might forestall dynastic rule and units presidential time period limits.
The proposed structure wants greater than 50 p.c of votes to be adopted.
“We have now a date with historical past,” Normal Brice Oligui Nguema, the transitional president who led the coup final yr, mentioned in a put up on social media platform X alongside a photograph of him in civilian costume and baseball cap, with a voting card in his hand.
Nguema has been urging voters to assist the brand new structure, which he says embodies the navy authorities’s dedication to charting a brand new course for Gabon.
He has promised handy energy again to civilians after a two-year transition however has made no secret of his need to win the presidential election scheduled for August 2025.
The referendum is seen as an important first step because the nation seeks to transition to democracy since Bongo’s ouster in August 2023. He had ruled since 2009, taking up the presidency from his father, Omar, who died that yr after ruling the nation since 1967.
Bongo was overthrown moments after being proclaimed the winner in an election the military and opposition declared fraudulent.
A brand new structure would introduce two-term limits on the presidency, take away the place of prime minister and recognise French as Gabon’s working language. It additionally says members of the family can’t succeed a president.
The presidential time period can be set at seven years. The present constitution permits for five-year phrases renewable with out restrict.
Nathalie Badzoko, a 33-year-old civil servant, instructed the AFP information company that she was voting “sure” and had religion within the navy authorities, however admitted she had “not learn the entire textual content” and its 173 articles.
Opponents dismissed the draft constitution as tailored for a strongman to stay in energy.
“We’re making a dictator who designs the structure for himself,” lawyer Marlene Fabienne Essola Efountame mentioned throughout a debate final Sunday, organised by state tv.
Nguema, the interim chief, is a cousin of Bongo. He had served as a bodyguard to Bongo’s father and likewise headed the Gabonese Republican Guard, an elite navy unit.
Voting started late at a number of polling stations within the capital, Libreville, together with on the Lycee Leon M’Ba college the place inexperienced – for sure – and purple – for no – poll papers had been nonetheless being handed out when the polls opened at 7am (06:00 GMT), in keeping with AFP.
The nation’s 2,835 polling stations are resulting from stay open till 6pm (17:00 GMT).
The ultimate outcomes will probably be introduced by the constitutional court docket, the Inside Ministry mentioned.
The previous French colony is a member of the Group of the Petroleum Exporting Nations (OPEC), however its oil wealth is concentrated within the arms of some. Practically 40 p.c of Gabonese aged 15 to 24 had been out of labor in 2020, in keeping with the World Financial institution.