Gabon’s transitional administration announced plans to hold a referendum on a proposed new constitution on November 16.
This is an important step toward the restoration of a civilian government, which the military junta had pledged following a coup. The 55-year rule by the family of former president Ali Bongo Ondimba came to an end with the coup of August 2023.
In the proposed new constitution, the prime minister’s position will be eliminated while the president will have a seven-year tenure that is renewable once.
The bill was approved by the Council of Ministers on Thursday, marking the final step in the transition that began with Bongo’s ouster, as stated in a formal statement released by Laurence Ndong, a spokesperson for the administration of Brice Oligui Nguema.
The Council of Ministers has expressed its satisfaction at the completion of the proposed new constitution.
Laurence Ndong, spokeswoman for the government led by Brice Oligui Nguema.
The next decisive step in the transition process will be the organisation of a constitutional referendum.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Early in September, legislators convened to develop a “reasoned opinion” on a final document that was compiled from a thousand suggestions made during a nationwide debate that was held in April.
A draft paper that is making the rounds online states that candidates for president must be the children of Gabonese citizens.
However, the oil-rich nation’s officials have not refuted this assertion.
