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| Gabon approves new constitution in referendum | |
| (3 months later) | |
| Gabon's military leader (right) has hailed the referendum as a crucial step towards civilian rule | Gabon's military leader (right) has hailed the referendum as a crucial step towards civilian rule |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Nguema is yet to openly say whether he will run in the election. |
| Can Gen Nguema usher in a new era? | Can Gen Nguema usher in a new era? |
| 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. | 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. | 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”. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| Ousted president quits Gabon politics, calls for wife's release | Ousted president quits Gabon politics, calls for wife's release |
| No foreign holidays for Gabon government officials | No foreign holidays for Gabon government officials |
| Who is Gabon's coup leader? | Who is Gabon's coup leader? |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |
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