Referendum in Gabon: Brice Oligui Nguema under maximum tension on the eve of the vote

On the eve of the referendum, Libreville is in the grip of an explosive atmosphere. Rumors of fraud are growing, putting the Republican Guard at the heart of the accusations. This elite unit, supposed to protect the institutions, is suspected of stuffing the ballot boxes at night, under cover of the curfew. Meanwhile, internal polls predict a victory for the "NO" vote on the constitutional revision project.

Tensions are rising, and with them, the distrust of an already disillusioned population.

Republican Guard accused of manipulating the vote

According to several anonymous testimonies, members of the Republican Guard were seen transferring sealed ballot boxes to unknown locations, away from the eyes of observers. This process, which often takes place in the middle of the night, reinforces suspicions of ballot stuffing orchestrated at the highest level.

"How can we trust a vote where the ballot boxes disappear between the voting and the counting?" asks an independent observer.
For many citizens, these practices recall dark episodes in Gabonese electoral history. Images of agents carrying bags full of ballots circulate on social networks, fueling anger. If the accusations are confirmed, this could mark a turning point in the perception of Brice Oligui, until now seen as a transitional actor.

Doubts at the top: when the fear of no prevails

Sources close to the government reveal that Oligui was informed of internal polls unfavorable to the constitutional reform project. These results, which are starting to leak, predict a clear victory for the "no" vote.

The interim president therefore seems ready to do anything to avoid such a scenario. But at what price? The warning signals issued by his advisers about the risks of such a gamble seem to have been brushed aside.

The CEO in ambush

The suspicions of fraud are not limited to the Republican Guard. The long-ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) is also playing a murky role in the organization of this referendum. Its control over electoral structures is fueling criticism, while monitoring procedures leave much to be desired.

The constitutional revision project, presented as a step forward, is seen by many as a blatant attempt to silence the opposition. By strengthening presidential power and introducing restrictive eligibility criteria, it excludes a large part of the protest figures from the political landscape.

A transition that falters

On the eve of the election, the gap between official discourse and reality on the ground continues to widen. The absence of public debates and the opaque management of this reform accentuate the unease. Brice Oligui, once a symbol of democratic renewal, now seems ready to sacrifice this promise on the altar of his personal ambitions.

If the referendum takes place under these conditions, it could not only further weaken the political transition, but also write a new dark page in Gabon's recent history.