“I'm going to vote 'yes' because we have to move forward. This Constitution is giving instructions to future generations so that we move forward,” proudly asserts Bernard Mambenda, a retiree, in the shadow of a bus stop in Lambaréné, a four-hour drive from the capital.
This referendum is a key step in the return to civilian rule promised by the military after their coup d'état in August 2023. The country's new strongman, General Brice Oligui Nguema, promised to return power after a transition period of two years, but he does not hide his intention to win the presidential election scheduled for August 2025.
Posters. The first posters calling for a “yes” vote were put up everywhere the day after the first anniversary of the coup d'état, marked by the highlighting of the actions of the new power and its leader.
Since the official launch of the campaign eight days ago, many people have worn “Let's vote yes for the future of Gabon” t-shirts and caps, massively distributed by “yes” supporters.
« Dialogue national ». “The 'yes' is everywhere in the city. But we would like to have more details, why 'yes'? Some people might want to vote 'no' without knowing it,” laments Neil Amédé Ngonga, a 25-year-old DJ from Lambarene.
“Many people are less informed about what a referendum is. They should have come and explained this to us in a simple way,” adds the one who hesitates to vote on Saturday due to lack of information on the issues of the 173 articles of the text published less than a month ago.
The new basic law, the fruit of contributions collected during a national dialogue in April, establishes, among other things, a seven-year mandate renewable only once, with a presidential regime endowed with strong executive power, without a Prime Minister and the impossibility of a dynastic transmission of power.
“Liberation Day”. His second article sets in stone the accession to power of the junta led by General Oligui on August 30, 2023, with the establishment of a “liberation celebration” to mark the fall of the Bongo dynasty after 55 years of power. Article 170 exempts from prosecution and conviction “the actors of the events from August 29, 2023 to the inauguration of the president of the transition”, on September 4.
Several provisions cannot be subject to any future revisions. Among them: the limit of two successive presidential mandates, the method of election by direct universal suffrage or even marriage reserved for two individuals of opposite sexes.
“This is the first time that our generation has experienced an event such as the referendum,” enthuses Laeticia Carmella Diweckou, a 40-year-old civil servant, too young to vote in the only constitutional referendum in the history of Gabon since its independence in 1995.
“President King”. “These articles were proposed by us, it is the first time in our Constitution that the Gabonese are asked to choose what they want for their future, I do not understand the reasons for voting 'no'” , insists, “Let’s vote yes” cap screwed on her head, the one who is actively campaigning in Lambaréné.
On Saturday, Kévin Angoué, a 22-year-old biotechnology student, will vote “no”, in particular to prevent his children “from doing military service” which will become obligatory if the text is adopted.
In Libreville, a few small posters from the “Together for Gabon” platform of Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, last head of government under Ali Bongo, call to say “No to the legalization of the coup d'état in the constitution, no to a seven-year mandate, and no to a president king of Gabon.”
“Transparency”. Around 860,000 voters are invited to travel to the country's 2,800 polling stations. A budget of 27 billion FCFA (more than 41 million euros) has been provided for the organization of the consultation in the 2024 finance bill.
The authorities assure that they have taken all measures to “guarantee the greatest transparency” during the vote, in particular by inviting international observers.
To encourage participation, the government gave the population two days off ahead of the vote and authorized those registered to change polling stations to prevent possible hazards linked to transport and the weather, in the middle of the short rainy season.
Léa NKAMLEUN FOSSO
© Agence France-Presse
