AFRICA - Troubling Signs for Democracy

By David Akana

At a moment when democracy in Africa got a tremendous boost from key elections in Ghana and South Africa, political events in Niger, Madagascar and Gabon have opened another dark chapter on the continent’s laborious journey towards democracy.

Widely acclaimed for combating poverty in one of the poorest countries on earth, President Mamadou Tandja of Niger has been unable to resist the temptation of perpetuating his stay in power. Since taking over 1999, President Tandja has succeeded in restoring faith in state institutions. On several occasions and as recent as last year when interviewed by French Newspaper, Le Monde, President Tandja pledged to serve only two terms. Now, the man who should have gained a place in history for restoring stability in Niger is contemplating changing the constitution to run for a third term. He has dissolved parliament and told the constitutional court off, insisting that it is legal for him to convene a referendum and change the constitution. Suddenly, Tandja has started acting ruthlessly – and after ten years of fairly commendable civilian rule, the military side of the man who helped orchestrate previous coups seems to be in full display.

The opposition, civil society and the biggest public service trade union in Niger have protested the President’s unilateral decision to dissolve parliament. The constitutional court continues to argue that Tandja is acting in illegality yet the later seems resolved to proceed with his unilateral actions even if it is against the interest and will of Nigeriens and the principles of democracy which he worked hard to restore. Some African governments have condemned Tandja’s decision, but the 71 years old President seems determined to walk the dishonorable path that has in the past humiliated some Presidents such as Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria in 2006. Tandja is presenting the same stale and outdated arguments that he needs more time to complete his agenda as if ten years is not enough and there is no one capable enough to transfer power in Niger. His supporters played the same theatrics that we have seen in other countries calling for the extension of his mandate. And like others before him, Tandja is using such questionable and unrepresentative support as his main pretext for seeking a third term. Whether he would succeed is still unknown at this point.

While Mamadou Tandja has staked his legacy - actively seeking to join the league of shameless African leaders, Madagascar made nonsense of democracy by successfully evicting a democratically elected President – Mark Ravalomanana. Though, the incumbent, President Andry Rajoelina has not been recognized by the African Union and the South African Development Community (SADC), rightly so, Madagascar’s actions sent the wrong signals to those advocating democracy on the African continent.

Uncertainty in Gabon

A few weeks ago, the world’s longest serving President, Gabon’s Omar Bongo Odimba temporary surrendered his duties as President of Gabon to his Vice President, Didjob Divungi Di Ndinge for health and personal reasons. Didjob and the entire Gabonese political class have stated unequivocally that there is no Presidential vacancy in the country. This may be true.

But, here is what is troubling about the political situation in Gabon. In the past forty years, Omar Bongo acted as the ‘father of the nation’ and by dint of that fact, he assumed he could rule for eternity. Conducting himself as an immortal, Bongo has often frowned against any discussions about his aftermath. Like Felix Houphouet Boigney of Ivory Coast, Lassana Conte of Guinea and Mobutu Sesse Sekou of ex Zaire, he dodged conversations about the future leadership of Gabon.

With his present illness comes what most Gabonese and Africans feared most – should he be unable to return to power, what would happen to Gabon? Would they respect state institutions and transfer power peacefully to the Speaker of the Assembly as the constitution stipulates? Shall Ali Ben Ondimba, presently Minister of Defense contain the temptation to take over power from his father?

It is hard to give any definite answers to these hypothetical questions. But history reminds us that the death of leaders who installed democracy yet acted as ‘father of the nation’ resulted in blatant disrespect of state institutions. The events after the death of President Gnassimbe Eyadema of Togo and Lassana Conte of Guinea are clear illustrations. Gnassimbe’s son, Faure Gnassimbe took over power after barring the constitutional heir – the Speaker of the Assembly from even returning to the country. In Guinea, little known, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara staged a coup after the death of Lassana Conte subjecting the entire civilian administration under his authority.

Recent happenings in Niger, Madagascar and Gabon are an indication of the long way most African countries have towards achieving sustainable democracy. Many states are still to achieve an arrangement which ensures fluid rotation of power – a system that is not dependent on persons. A few countries have in recent years established a strong and respected democratic tradition such as South Africa, Ghana, Senegal, Mali, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania and Botswana.

Clearly, Niger, Madagascar and Gabon are troubling spots for democracy in Africa. It may be up to the people of Niger to decide whether or not to allow Mamadou Tandja run for another term. In 2006, we saw the Nigerian Parliament defeat Obasanjo’s maneuvers to stand for a third term. The circumstances in Niger may be different as parliament has already been dissolved but it is up to the civil society, opposition and the people of Niger to decide when a referendum is organized in the weeks ahead.

Whatever ends up happening in Niger and Gabon, we are reminded that when democratic institutions are strong, designed to serve national not personal interest – states are more stable and prosperous – investors have confidence and are ready to stake huge and long term investments. Presently, Niger is about to reverse all the gains it made during the last decade while Gabon may return to a failed state except all parties respect and abide by the state institutions in case President Bongo is no more.