The campaign for the Gabon’s constitutional referendum kicked off on Thursday, November 7, and will run until Friday, November 15. On Saturday, November 16, Gabonese citizens will vote to approve or reject the draft new constitution.
The proposed constitution introduces several key changes, including a shift from a semi-presidential to a fully presidential system, a cap on presidential terms to a maximum of two consecutive terms, and the recognition of French as a “working language”.
This referendum is significant as it marks the first election since the August 30, 2023, coup that ended the “Bongo dynasty” of father and son rule. Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima who is overseeing the national coordination of the 2024 constitutional referendum says that the country cannot remain indefinitely in a transitional phase.
Other provisions in the draft constitution include the requirement that presidential candidates must have at least one Gabonese parent, and the prohibition of the spouse and descendants of a president from running for succession. Additionally, as part of measures designed to prevent a return to authoritarian rule, presidential terms will be limited to seven years.
However, the proposed changes have sparked controversy with some groups such as the trade union coalition Dynamique Unitaire (DU), calling for the rejection of the constitution, citing concerns about the lack of separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary.
