The country has overwhelmingly voted in favor of a new constitution, a move hailed by military authorities as a significant step toward restoring civilian rule. However, critics argue that the process is heavily skewed in favor of the current military leader, Brice Oligui Nguema, and could lead to the entrenchment of a new autocratic regime.
According to provisional results released by Gabon’s electoral body, an impressive 92% of voters supported the new constitution, signaling broad public backing for the change. The vote, held on a Saturday, was marked by a 54% voter turnout, which, although lower than expected, was considered acceptable given the context. The military-led Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) described the referendum as a “great step forward,” with Nguema himself calling the vote a “transparent” process.
While the new constitution is being presented as a transition toward democracy, it remains highly contentious. One of the most significant provisions of the new draft is a clause that would effectively allow Brice Oligui Nguema, the leader of last year’s coup, to remain in power. Nguema, who ousted President Ali Bongo Odimba in a military coup in August 2023, has yet to make a public declaration about whether he intends to run in the upcoming elections, scheduled for August 2025. Critics argue that the constitution has been tailored to enable Nguema to secure the presidency for himself, despite claims that it will usher in a return to civilian rule.
The referendum also introduced several other key changes to Gabon’s political system. Notably, the draft constitution institutes a seven-year presidential term limit, renewable once, replacing the previous system that allowed for unlimited five-year terms. This provision appears to be a direct attempt to end the dynastic rule that the Bongo family maintained for over five decades. Under the new rules, no member of a president’s family can run for the highest office, effectively barring the former president, Ali Bongo, from returning to power due to his marriage to a French citizen. The law stipulates that presidential candidates must be exclusively Gabonese and married to a Gabonese citizen, an overt move to ensure that no future family dynasties can take hold.
Another notable change is the abolition of the position of prime minister. The draft constitution introduces two vice-presidential roles instead, a shift that some critics fear will centralize too much power in the executive branch, particularly in the hands of the president. While this change is being framed as an improvement to governance, it raises concerns about the concentration of authority and the potential for authoritarian rule.
The referendum and the changes it brings have sparked mixed reactions. On one hand, the military government, which took control after the coup, argues that the reforms are necessary to end the Bongo family’s long-standing grip on power and to establish a more inclusive and transparent political system. The transition authorities have emphasized the importance of restoring constitutional order and conducting free and fair elections.
However, many observers remain skeptical. Gabon’s political history, marked by the Bongo family’s authoritarian rule, has left deep divisions in the country. Despite the nation’s oil wealth and natural resources, poverty remains widespread, with one-third of the population living below the poverty line, according to the United Nations. There are concerns that the new constitution could simply replace one form of autocracy with another, given that Nguema, a former ally of the Bongo family, has not fully committed to democratic reforms.
The road to a fully restored civilian government in Gabon now seems uncertain. While the new constitution paves the way for elections, many questions remain about whether these elections will be genuinely free and fair. Gabon’s international partners, including the United Nations and the African Union, will likely be watching closely to ensure that the country does not slip back into authoritarian rule.
In the coming months, as the final results of the referendum are announced by the Constitutional Court, all eyes will be on Gabon to see how the transition unfolds. For now, the nation stands at a crossroads, with the future of its democracy uncertain and the shadow of military control still looming large.
