Gabon held a referendum on a new constitution on Saturday, a major step towards establishing democratic rule after a coup ousted the Bongo dynasty last year, but some observers fear that the ruling junta may use the process to remain in power.

Gabon’s military says it deployed troops Saturday to towns and villages and reinforced an ongoing dusk-to-dawn curfew from midnight to 5 a.m. to protect civilians and make sure there is peace and civilians are protected before,

Gabon held a referendum on a new constitution on Saturday, marking a significant step toward democratic governance following last year’s coup that ended the Bongo dynasty’s long rule. ・Gabon held a referendum on a new constitution to transition towards democratic governance.

Gabon is holding a referendum on whether to adopt a new constitution, more than a year after mutinous soldiers overthrew the country’s longtime president and seized power in the oil-rich Central African nation.

The vote follows a military coup that overthrew the Bongo family, which ruled the central African nation from 1967 to 2023.

Gabon is holding a constitutional referendum on Saturday that could reshape its political system – introducing a seven-year presidential term, renewable once, while abolishing the post of prime minister.