PREVIEW
Citizens will vote in a referendum to decide whether to change the state’s laws to allow its junta leader to run for President
Less than 15 months after military officers ousted President Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba, Gabon is set to vote on a new constitution, but the military will not significantly loosen its grip on power.
A referendum on a new constitution will be held on 16 November and will set the stage for elections although no date has been agreed for them yet. The new constitution would remove the post of Prime Minister and create the post of Vice-President in a move that will very likely consolidate power with the presidency. Raymond Ndong Sima, a former opposition leader, has been interim Prime Minister since the coup.
The President would be directly elected and limited to two seven-year terms.
Crucially, the new charter would not prevent General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema from being allowed to run for President. Though Nguema has not said publicly whether he plans to make a bid for the presidency, pundits say that the proposed constitution, which was drafted following a month-long national dialogue process in April, makes his candidacy a near certainty.
The dialogue also led to proposals to suspend close to 200 political parties and to bar members of Bongo’s Gabonese Democratic Party from taking part in elections for three years.
After Nguema seized power last year, he promised to restore civilian rule within two years. That could still happen, but the military will not be relinquishing its grip. (AC Vol 64 No 21, General Nguema consolidates his palace coup).
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