Gabon approves law allowing junta leader to contest elections

An overwhelming majority of Gabonese people have voted for a new constitution, military authorities say, in a move that marks a new phase for the country following last year's coup.

Provisional results showed 92% of voters backed the new constitution, according to the country's electoral body.

The outcome 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 openly say whether he will run in the election.

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Voter turnout was estimated at 54%, according to the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI). There were no serious incidents reported during Saturday's vote.

The final results will be announced by the Constitutional Court.

As he voted, the military leader hailed the referendum as a “great step forward”, adding that Gabonese were “coming to vote in a transparent fashion”.

Prior to the vote, the transitional authorities described it as a crucial step towards the return to constitutional order in the oil-rich country.

The referendum paves the way for the holding of elections tentatively scheduled for August next year - two years after Nguema took power to topple President Ali Bongo Odimba, whose family had ruled the country for decades.

The draft constitution establishes a seven-year term, renewable once, replacing a five year-term that had no limits and which allowed for dynastic rule.

It also bars members of a president’s family from running for the country’s top job and also requires candidates to be exclusively Gabonese and have a Gabonese spouse.

This effectively bars the deposed leader, who is married to a French woman.

It is being seen as an attempt to end the family succession phenomenon engineered by the Bongo family, which maintained a 55-year dynasty.

Bongo had ruled for 14 years before he was toppled. He took office after the death of his father who had been president for 41 years.

The new law removes the prime minister’s position and introduces two vice-president roles.

While some have hailed the draft law, others have warned it could concentrate too much power in the presidency.

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.