The majority of Gabonese people have voted for a new constitution, military officials say, marking a new phase in the country following last year’s coup d’état.
Provisional results showed 92% of voters supported the new constitution, according to the country’s electoral body.
The result sets the stage for a transition to civilian rule, although critics say it is designed to allow coup leader Brice Oligui Nguema to remain in power.
Nguema is yet to go public on whether he will contest the election.
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Can Gen Nguema usher in a new era?
The number of voters is estimated at 54%, according to the Committee for Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI). No untoward incidents were reported during voting on Saturday.
The final results will be announced by the Constitutional Court.
During the vote, the military leader hailed the referendum as “a positive step forward”, adding that Gabonese people “will vote in a transparent manner”.
Ahead of the vote, reform authorities described it as an important step in returning to constitutional order in the oil-rich country.
The referendum paves the way for elections scheduled for August next year – two years after Nguema took power to overthrow President Ali Bongo Odimba, whose family has ruled the country for decades.
The draft constitution establishes a seven-year term, which can be renewed once, instead of the five-year term that was unrestricted and allowed for authoritarian rule.
It also bars members of the president’s family from running for the country’s top job and requires candidates to be Gabonese only and have a Gabonese spouse.
This effectively prevents the deposed leader, who is married to a French woman.
It is seen as an attempt to end the family succession incident created by the Bongo family, which maintained a dynasty of 55 years.
Bongo had ruled for 14 years before he was overthrown. He took office after the death of his father who was president for 41 years.
The new law abolishes the position of prime minister and introduces two vice-presidential roles.
While some have praised the law, others have warned that too much power may be concentrated in the office of the president.
Despite Gabon’s oil wealth and vast forests, one-third of its 2.4 million people live below the poverty line, according to the UN.
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