(16 Nov 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Libreville, Gabon – 16 November 2024
1. Wide of polling station center gate closing
2. Various of workers opening ballot container
3. Workers placing ballot papers on table
4. Various of tally display for ballot counting
5. Close of ballot papers
6. Various of woman counting ballot papers
STORYLINE:
The polling stations closed in Gabon on Saturday evening after a day of voting on the new constitution.
The country held a referendum on whether to adopt a new constitution, more than one year after mutinous soldiers overthrew the country’s longtime president and seized power in the oil-rich Central African nation.
Nearly 1 million people were expected to vote. The draft constitution, which proposes sweeping changes that could prevent dynastic rule and transfer of power, needs more than 50% of the votes cast to be adopted. There is no legal deadline for when results should be announced.
In 2023, soldiers toppled President Ali Bongo Ondimba and put him under house arrest, accusing him of irresponsible governance and massive embezzlement that risked leading the country into chaos.
The junta released Ondimba a week later on humanitarian grounds, allowing him to travel abroad for medical treatment.
The soldiers proclaimed their Republican Guard Chief, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, as president of a transitional committee to lead the country. Oligui is a cousin of Bongo.
Bongo, had served two terms since coming to power in 2009 after the death of his father, who ruled the country for 41 years. His rule was marked by widespread discontent with his reign. A coup attempt in 2019 failed.
The draft constitution imposes a seven-year term, renewable only once, instead of the current charter that allows for five-year terms renewable without limit.
It also says family members cannot succeed a president and abolishes the position of prime minister.
The former French colony is a member of OPEC but its oil wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few — and nearly 40% of Gabonese aged 15 to 24 were out of work in 2020, according to the World Bank.
Its oil export revenue was $6 billion in 2022, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
===========================================================
Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/c4f45c67138049af96c18be48f4eb171
Author: AP Archive
Go to Source
News post in November 21, 2024, 9:04 pm.
Visit Our Sponsor’s:
News Post In – News
