The Gabon Coup: A Wake-Up Call for Democratic Reforms in Africa

The Implications of a Flawed Democracy

The recent coup in Gabon has sparked widespread attention, but its implications extend far beyond the country’s borders. The event raises important questions about the role of military intervention in Africa, the resilience of democracy on the continent, and the need for deeper reforms to strengthen democratic foundations.

A Disputed Democratic Order

In Gabon, a large segment of citizens appears to be supporting the coup even as African institutions, the West, and other global powers condemn it. The African Union (AU) has condemned the coup, emphasizing the return to a “democratic constitutional order.” Similarly, the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States called for a “return to constitutional order.”

However, these calls are disingenuous in the Gabonese case since the prevailing order was not democratic. President Ali Bongo had changed the constitution to his advantage just four months prior to the coup. The AU’s response is also inadequate as it simply requires junta leaders to offer a timetable for elections without addressing the deeper issues.

Flawed Elections and Lack of Legitimacy

One of the main reasons for popular support is that leaders elected in flawed elections, and through non-democratic internal party selection mechanisms, often lack widespread legitimacy. For example:

Ousted Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum was viewed as a puppet of his predecessor.
His victory in the 2021 elections came at the hands of the imprisonment of the main opposition candidate and widespread irregularities.

The Need for Deeper Reforms

Rather than simply requiring junta leaders to offer a timetable for elections, there needs to be greater emphasis on, and support for, the deeper foundations needed for a successful democratic transition. This involves:

Genuine dialogue with a diverse range of rural and urban civil society and political parties
Enhancing the capacities of institutions such as legislatures, judiciaries, and independent media that are needed to curtail executive overreach

Building Trust in Electoral Outcomes

Requiring independent electoral commissions that are properly capacitated is also critical to enhancing citizen trust in electoral outcomes. In Gabon, as in several other Central African countries:

Election results are announced by the Permanent National Electoral Commission all at once rather than progressively
This raises concerns about transparency and cheating

Conclusion

While flawed elections are undesirable, indefinite military rule is also clearly not a solution. The ultimate outcome of the Gabonese coup is far from certain, but it highlights the need to better tackle military-civilian dynamics in Africa, including:

How loyalties are shaped
Where factions exist in the military
Whether commanders have sufficient equipment to fulfill their mandates
Whether they are invested in certain parts of the economy that could be threatened or advanced by members of the political elite.