AFRICAN UNION MUST PRIORITIZE DEMOCRACY OVER PROTECTING DICTATORS
The African continent has become a battleground for imperialism, with the African Union (AU) appearing more as a reactive body than a proactive advocate for democracy and human rights. The recent coup in Gabon, which ousted dictator Ali Bongo, underscores the AU’s glaring failures. Where was the AU when the people of Gabon pleaded for justice and freedom from tyranny?
It seems clear that the AU operates under external influences, selectively addressing crises based on the geopolitical interests of world superpowers. Dictators are allowed to rig elections, suppress dissent, and violate human rights with impunity, so long as they align with powerful foreign interests. The AU often only raises its voice after influential countries outside Africa declare their stance on a coup or crisis.
This pattern poses a significant threat to the continent’s independence and undermines the aspirations of millions of Africans who endure poverty and oppression. While the AU quickly suspended Gabon following the coup, it failed to act when human rights activists and organizations in Gabon called for accountability and justice against the oppressive Bongo regime.
The AU’s founding purpose was to promote peace, stability, and democracy across Africa. Yet, peace cannot exist in a vacuum—it must be the product of genuine democracy. While military coups are not a sustainable solution, they are often the result of the failure of democratic structures to hold leaders accountable. The AU’s inaction and complicity in tolerating dictatorships make it partially responsible for the conditions that give rise to coups.
For instance, the AU has established democratic principles that all member states are expected to follow. Yet, many dictators blatantly violate these principles while remaining in power, unchallenged by the AU. In Gabon’s case, a swift suspension followed the coup, but no such decisive action was taken when Ali Bongo’s regime was accused of undermining democracy and human rights.
The ineffectiveness of organizations like the AU and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) fuels political instability. Eswatini offers a stark example, where King Mswati III has ignored calls for a political dialogue for nearly three years since the June 2021 unrest. The AU and SADC have remained largely silent, allowing the situation to fester, thereby eroding their credibility as facilitators of peace and democracy.
The AU’s silence in the face of mass suffering and injustice undermines its legitimacy. It cannot claim to champion African unity while failing to address the cries of millions of citizens oppressed by authoritarian regimes. The Gabonese people, like others across the continent, deserve the chance to determine their future through free and fair elections. Instead of suspending Gabon, the AU should focus on helping the country transition peacefully from military to civilian rule and establish sustainable democratic institutions.
The recent removal of Ali Bongo’s regime should serve as a wake-up call for the AU. If organizations like the AU and SADC fail to enforce democratic principles and hold leaders accountable, Africa will witness more coups in response to entrenched authoritarianism. This risks rendering these organizations irrelevant, as they continue to protect dictators while ignoring the voices of the oppressed.
The AU must pivot away from its history of shielding oppressive regimes. It must prioritize supporting democracy, facilitating free elections, and ensuring peaceful transitions of power. Only by aligning itself with the will of the people, rather than the whims of dictators, can the AU remain relevant and fulfill its mission to promote peace and prosperity across the continent.
