Gabon’s interim president, Gen. Oligui Nguema, has banned members of his transitional government from taking holidays abroad.

The new restrictions, announced on state television, also limit government officials to a maximum of one week’s holiday leave.

News of the holiday restrictions comes days before the first anniversary of the coup, when the junta’s record will inevitably be scrutinised.

Details of the new holiday rules were read out on state television, with viewers told that the goal was to “immerse” government officials “in the realities and expectations of their compatriots.”

A spokesman for the interim government explained that “this measure aims to encourage a return to the roots and increased proximity with local populations,” stipulating that exceptions will only be made in cases of “force majeure,” a legal term meaning extraordinary events that are out of the parties’ control, or on health grounds.

BBC reports that there is speculation that Nguema may be softening the ground to run for president in next year’s election—the first since he seized power in the Central African state.

He deposed his cousin Ali Bongo, who took over as president in 2009 after his father, Omar Bongo Ondimba, died after 41 years in office.

Since Nguema took power, he has sought to reassure the public that his military government is acting in their best interest.

However, he has not publicly commented on whether or not he will run for the country’s top job in the polls that are planned for 2025.