News brief

Gabon’s new constitution. Authorities in Gabon say voters have overwhelmingly approved 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. More than 91% of voters approved the new constitution in a referendum held on Nov. 16, Gabon’s Interior Minister Hermann Immongault said in a statement read on state television. He said turnout was an estimated 53.5%. The draft constitution, which proposed sweeping changes that could prevent dynastic rule and transfer of power, needed more than 50% of the votes cast to be adopted.

Gabon coup: A blow for democracy – or to it?