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A constitutional referendum was held and approved in Gabon on 16 November 2024. The vote was on a new constitution; it proposed, among other things, a 7-year presidential term, renewable once consecutively. The referendum may lead to the return to a civilian regime which the military junta promised after the coup d'état in 2023.
Background
After 56 years of leadership under Omar Bongo and his son, Ali Bongo, the 2023 coup brought about military rule. In September 2024, a draft of the proposed new constitution was handed to transitional president Brice Oligui Nguema. Gabon’s parliamentarians submitted their proposed amendments ahead of a 22 September deadline.
The minister for institutional reform in Gabon, Murielle Minkoue Mintsa, announced that the referendum would take place on 16 November 2024.
Constitution
The new constitution contains 173 articles. It includes a presidential system, abolishing the office of prime minister, with the President of Gabon limited to two consecutive seven-year terms, elected via the two-round system. The method of election and term of the president is entrenched. The role of the prime minister would be replaced by a new "Vice President of the Government" appointed by the President (thus meaning there would be two vice presidents in total, with the other known as the Vice President of the Republic). The working language of Gabon will continue to be French, but it will not be considered the state's "official language". Mandatory military service would be allowed under law. The new constitution would also define marriage as a union between a man and a woman via an entrenched clause, thus permanently banning same-sex marriage. The national holiday of August 17 is complemented by a "liberation day" on August 30 in honor of the 2023 coup d'état.
The initial insistence that "only people born to a Gabonese father and mother can run in the presidential election" was controversial among those of mixed heritage. This section was considered to prevent former first lady Sylvia Bongo Ondimba and her son Noureddin Bongo Valentin, both of whom have dual French-Gabonese nationality, from standing. Ultimately the requirement was amended to require a person:
- be born Gabonese to one Gabonese parent
- not possessing dual citizenship within 3 years of standing for election
- (if applicable) have a spouse that conforms to the prior two guidelines
- have resided within the territory of Gabon for at least 3 years prior to the election
- speak at least one national language
- not be a spouse or descendant of a current President
- be physically and mentally fit
- not be in a state of having their political rights suspended
Elections for the presidency must take place within 3 months of the end of the term.
The president would be allowed to call a state of emergency, under which extra powers as defined by law would be granted to them. The president may also dissolve the National Assembly once during a term after consultation with the presidents of both chambers and the Constitutional Court, provided it has been at least two years since the start of the term and that no indictment before the High Court of Justice is opened. In this case, a new election must be called within 60 days.
Members of the government must be a Gabonese citizen born to a Gabonese parent, be at least 30 years old, and not have their political rights suspended.
The National Assembly is bicameral, consisting of the National Assembly and Senate, both serving 5 year terms, with the latter being indirectly elected. Elections must take place between one and six months before the end of the term. The term of office begins on the date the Bureaux of the two chambers are elected.
The Constitutional Court would consist of 9 appointed members, plus ex officio members comprising former Presidents (provided they do not renounce that right and retain their political rights). The members serve eight year terms, with a maximum of two terms, and consist of three people appointed by the President, two each by the president of the National Assembly and Senate, and two by the High Council of the Judiciary. Re-elections would take place by members of the Court.
Wording on property ownership was included, stating that everyone has the right to property, but that "the conditions and procedures for access to property shall be determined by law", in theory enabling restrictions. Cloning of human beings would be banned. Amnesty would be granted to anyone who participated in the 2023 coup d'état.
The new constitution will come into force following the next presidential election if approved.
Conduct
The provisional government is authorizing international observers to observe the referendum, something that was not permitted for the 2023 Gabonese general election. Ballot papers used in the referendum were color-coded, with green ballots meaning "yes" and red ones meaning "no". Around 2,835 polling stations were utilised for the procedure, which ran from 07:00 to 18:00. A night-time curfew was declared for safety reasons.
Results
On 17 November, Interior Minister Hermann Immongault said that the referendum had passed with over 91% support after an estimated 53% turnout but that the final results would be announced later by the Constitutional Court. On 29 November, the Constitutional Court validated the results of the referendum, definitively adopting the constitution. On December 19, the new constitution was promulgated by the president.
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 381,581 | 91.64 | |
| No | 34,802 | 8.36 | |
| Total | 416,383 | 100.00 | |
| Valid votes | 416,383 | 90.09 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 45,784 | 9.91 | |
| Total votes | 462,167 | 100.00 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 853,028 | 54.18 | |
| Source: TV Plus Afrique | |||
Aftermath
The President of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, congratulated the holding of the referendum and the return to constitutional order in Gabon. The adoption of the new constitution by the population established the Second Republic.
References
- "Journal de l'Afrique - Nouvelle constitution au Gabon, le référendum fixé au 16 novembre". France 24 (in French). 18 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- "Au Gabon, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema fixe le référendum au 16 novembre - Jeune Afrique.com". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- Kindzeka, Moki Edwin (24 October 2024). "Gabon to Vote on Constitution That Would Let Military Leader Run for President". Voice of America.
- "Gabon to hold referendum on new constitution in November". RFI. 20 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- "Gabon takes historic step towards democratic renewal". Africanews. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- "Gabon's transitional president handed draft version of future constitution". Africanews. 1 September 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- "Consultations underway on Gabon's future constitution". Africanews. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- "Oligui Nguema sees basic law referendum as springboard for presidential poll". Africa Intelligence. 22 October 2024.
- ^ "Gabon votes in referendum on new constitution after military coup last year". Al Jazeera. 16 November 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- "Gabon to hold referendum on new constitution in November". RFI. 20 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- "Gabon to Vote on New Constitution Okaying Military Ruler in Polls". allAfrica.com. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- Wabwireh, Dominic (22 October 2024). "Key details on Gabon's new constitution and upcoming referendum". AfricaNews. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- ^ "Afrique: Les Gabonais votent pour adopter ou rejeter le projet de Constitution". RFI (in French). 16 November 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- "The President of Gabon Oligui Nguema wants to stay in power - Robert Lansing Institute". 24 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- "Afrique Les Gabonais votent pour adopter ou rejeter le projet de Constitution". Radio France International (in French). 16 November 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- "Gabon : pourquoi le projet de nouvelle Constitution fait débat". Le Point (in French). 25 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- "Au Gabon, le général Brice Oligui Nguema se taille une Constitution sur mesure" (in French). 25 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- "Gabon: la campagne électorale pour le référendum constitutionnel débutera le 7 novembre". RFI (in French). 27 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- "Early reports say a majority of voters in Gabon cast ballots to end military rule". VOA. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- "Référendum 2024 au Gabon : La nouvelle constitution approuvée avec 91,80 % du Oui". INFOS GABON (in French). 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- "Gabon: la Cour constitutionnelle valide le "oui" au référendum". Voa Afrique (in French). 29 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- "Gabon: la nouvelle Constitution promulguée par le président de la transition". rif.fr (in French). 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- "Le Président de la Commission de l'Union Africaine félicite le Gabon pour l'organisation du Référendum sur la nouvelle Constitution". African Union (in French). 18 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
- "Le Référendum Constitutionnel au Gabon : une adoption massive de la nouvelle Constitution". gouvernement.ga (in French). 18 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
External links
 Elections and referendums in Gabon | |
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