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 C

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.

The constitutional change would also require presidential candidates to be exclusively Gabonese, with at least one Gabon- born parent and have a Gabonese spouse. The criterion disqualifies ousted ruler Ali Bongo Ondimba,