In just five weeks after the military takeover in Niger Republic, a set of military personnel in Gabon declared that the military has taken over and had automatically annulled the election results of Saturday 26th, August, that was allegedly flawed with electoral irregularities.
The election, which led to the reelection of Ali Bongo to serve as the President of Gabon for a third term, was said to lack credibility. With 64.27% votes, Bongo defeated his main opponent who garnered 30.77% votes.
Gabon, a country of about 2.3 million population is located in Central Africa. It shares borders with Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and the Republic of Congo.
The country is blessed with a myriad of natural resources and forestry reserves that account for 88% of its total land area, a reliable carbon sink which, according to the African Development Bank Group allowed the country to absorb 187 million tons of carbon dioxide between 2010 and 2018.
Up till the time he was ousted from power, President Ali Bongo Ondimba had ruled Gabon for two terms since 2009; seven years each, and was set to head for the third term before the military seized power.
Ali Bongo became Gabon president when his father, Omar Bongo died in 2009, 41 years after his reign. More like a continuation of what looks like a family heritage, Ali Bongo succeeded his father and had since ruled Gabon for 14 years.
However it is puzzling that the head of the military government, Brice Oligui Nguema, is the cousin of the ousted infirm leader, who is battling with a stroke, and former aide to his late father. This fuelled suspicions that the coup was a scam, and an attempt to retain Gabon’s political power and strategic economic interest in the family, instead of risking outright loss in an election or a true revolutionary coup.
In a major departure from the Francophone West African coups, The military did not mention any grouse with France as the cause of this coup, even though France has strong ties with the country and has its military base there.
Besides, all the supposedly arrested President Bongo could say in a video was “make noise”.
This and many other foresnsic lapses fuel the suspicion that the coup is only a preemptive action by Gabon’s political establishment to maintain the status quo and its old alliance with France.
Extending a Pattern of Coups in Africa
The recent military takeover in Gabon reflects a recurring pattern in the African region, with military officials seizing power and halting democratic rule. At least, about 102 successful coups have been recorded in Africa between 1950 and 2022.
The recent coup in Gabon will make the second military takeover in 2023 and the 8th since 2020.
This political instability raises concerns both within Africa and internationally, raising questions about its democracy. The implications of this sudden change in leadership have far-reaching consequences for the stability and development of the country and its neighboring nations.
The recent trend has evoked widespread reactions from the international community, with many countries urging a peaceful resolution and a return to democratic governance. Regional and International organizations such as the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States European Union, France, The United States, and other concerned countries have expressed their concern and called for a swift resolution to the crisis.
The people of Gabon, meanwhile, are found jubilating on the street, celebrating the end of the Bongos dynastic rule, a family that has held the presidency for almost 56 years.
The military coup in Gabon not only disrupts democratic institutions but also raises questions about the long-term stability and development of the country. Immediately after the military seized power in the nation’s capital, Libreville, all state institutions were scrapped and borders and closed indefinitely.
With the doubts and uncertainties that often accompany military rule, the need for stability and true democratic procedures becomes more critical.
Reasons provided for the military coup in Gabon
According to the statement read by a set of soldiers, the reasons for the coup which was read out in French include institutional, political, economic, and social failure. However, the flawed election results from the Saturday poll could have been a major trigger.
The statement read in part:
“….. Today, the country is going through a serious institutional, political, economic, and social crisis.
“We are therefore forced to admit that the organization of the general elections of 26 August 2023 did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible, and inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon.
“Added to this is irresponsible and unpredictable governance, resulting in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion, with the risk of leading the country into chaos….”
While there are some geo-political narratives to the recent coups in Africa, especially in the Francophone countries, common reasons given by the military who have seized power in these African countries include irresponsible leadership, insecurity, and socio-economic crisis.
Gabon is the third richest country in Africa in terms of GDP per Capita of $8,820.30 and a GDP of $21.07 billion as of 2022.
The country is the fourth largest oil producer in Sub-Saharan Africa and has a large deposit of manganese, wood, and palm-oil. Despite its huge natural endowment, the country struggles with a 54% debt-to-GDP ratio, 33% of its population are living in poverty, and 28.8% are unemployed.
According to the 2023 Index of Economic Freedom, poor fiscal management and overreliance on oil have stifled the economy. Power cuts and water shortages are frequent. Though average income per capita is one of Africa’s highest, oil wealth is held by only a few.
Sit-tight trends in Africa
One of the major highlights of the Gabonese coup is the Bongos’ long rule over the country and the glaring intention to continue ruling before the soldiers halted it. The family had been in power since 1967 when Omar Bongo, the father of the ousted president became the second Gabonese president since the country’s independence in 1960.
While it is not uncommon in Africa, the long reign of leaders and the refusal to hand over power is alien to democracy and is more likened to autocracy and monarchy.
Term limits are legal restrictions to the period an elected leader can use in power, usually a two-term limit, a trend that is prevalent in a democracy. Apart from its role in preventing an abuse of power, this legal framework according to Jon Temin in Lawfare drives open competition for top positions and encourages political participation and the development of new parties and leaders. Change at the helm of government provides a leveled ground for all qualified and competent citizens to vie for political posts and gives individuals the chance to serve the public.
Quite many world leaders have attempted to outwit term restrictions and increase their grasp on power over the years. The practice has occurred in every region, but the trend is mostly seen among African leaders who usually instigated amendments to term limits.
Teodoro Obiang, the president of Equatorial Guinea who is currently the longest-serving president in Africa has been in power since 1979. Obiang came into power after he ousted his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, in an August 1979 military coup. Paul Biya has served as the president of Cameroon since 1982. He is the second-longest-ruling president in Africa.
What is the term limit according to the Gabonese Constitution?
Currently, there are no constitutional term limits in Gabon, a factor that could be likely responsible for the uninterrupted reign of the Bongos.
Article 9 of the Gabonese Constitution 1991 (rev. 2011), stated that: “The President of the Republic is elected for a presidential term of seven (7) years, by universal and direct suffrage. The President is re-electable.”
This section that directly speaks to the election and the terms of office of a president does not explicitly state the term limits of a president and as such is subjected to ambiguity.
In situations where a section of the constitution is not specific, adherents tend to misinterpret and alternate to suit their interest. This development poses a threat to the people and democracy in general.
Reactions to the Gabon Coup from the International community
The African Union, through its President, Moussa Faki outrightly condemned the coup and said it contradicts AU’s stance on election democratic principles and then solicited for a peaceful return to civilian rule.
While Russia voiced worry and asked that peace be restored, China also urged a constructive discussion and a guaranteed President Ali Bongo’s security.
The United States, the European Union and France, and the Nigerian President Bola Tinubu have all faulted the latest development in Gabon and called for immediate reinstatement.