Kinshasa, Congo ? Voters in this Central African nation approved a new constitution, paving the way for possible peace.

Electoral commission chief Appolinaire Malumalu said Wednesday in Kinshasa the new charter was approved by 84 percent of the 15 million residents who voted Dec. 18. Congolese had not voted en masse since 1970. The first parliamentary and presidential elections in decades are due in March.

The constitution is considered crucial to securing peace after two back-to-back wars, the first in 1996-1997 and another from 1998-2002 that drew in the armies of six African nations.

A transitional government that includes former rebel leaders has struggled to rule the country since 2002.