Gabon’s military rulers announced that their proposed constitution has been overwhelmingly approved in a referendum, with provisional results released Sunday signaling a significant shift for the oil-rich nation.
The new constitution introduces a two-term limit of seven years each for the presidency, abolishes the role of prime minister, and bars dynastic succession. Provisional figures from the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) indicate 91.8% of voters endorsed the changes.
Authorities heavily promoted the referendum through TV, radio, and social media, urging the estimated 860,000 registered voters to participate by casting either a green “yes” or red “no” ballot. Voter turnout was reported at 53.54%, notably lower than an earlier figure of 71% announced by Gabon TV.
Despite concerns over junta-led propaganda dominating the campaign, voting across 2,835 polling stations concluded without major incidents. Polling stations remained open until 6:00 PM, with security measures reinforced as the junta extended a night curfew by two hours to midnight for the duration of the electoral process.
This referendum marks a pivotal moment in Gabon’s political landscape as it navigates a post-coup era.
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