Administrative Map of Gabon

Gabon will hold a referendum on 16 November on a proposed new constitution, a key step towards the return to a civilian regime which the military junta promised after a coup, the transitional government said.

The August 2023 coup put an end to 55 years of rule by the family of former president Ali Bongo Ondimba.

The draft new constitution includes abolishing the post of prime minister and imposing a seven-year presidential term, renewable once.

Gabon’s Council of Ministers on Thursday passed the bill, the last component of a transition initiated after the removal of Bongo, according to an official statement sent by Laurence Ndong, spokeswoman for the government led by Brice Oligui Nguema.