Question NW3737 to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
04 December 2023 - NW3737
Mogale, Mr T to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
(1) Whether she has found her department has been consistent in its approach of dealing with military takeovers, given that the response from her department was different at the time our SA Development Community neighbour Zimbabwe experienced a military takeover in 2017, when the former President, Mr Robert Mugabe, was removed from office, to how it currently is to the situation in francophone countries; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) what has she found to be the causes of the political situations that led to the military takeovers in (a) Gabon, (b) Burkina Faso and (c) Niger; (3) whether she has found that the citizens of the specified countries have full democratic rights to participate in free and fair elections; if not, (4) whether her department has condemned the alleged role played by France in stifling democracy and exploiting the natural resources of the countries with no tangible benefits for the citizens of the specified countries, if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW4953E
Reply:
1. South Africa has been consistent in its approach towards unconstitutional changes of Governments on the African Continent and has publicly articulated its opposition to these developments, which are in contravention of the Constitutive Act of the African Union (2002) and the Lomé Declaration of July 2000 on Unconstitutional Changes of Government. South Africa’s position, cognisant of the adverse challenges posed by unconstitutional changes of Government, is informed by the statements and decisions of the African Union (AU), in particular the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC), as well as the Regional Economic Communities (RECs). The situation in Zimbabwe in 2017 was arguably not a military takeover but appeared to be more of an internal party-political matter and SADC has subsequently offered assistance in dealing with political situation in line with the organisation’s protocols and guidelines.
2. The African Union has identified the following causes of the political situations that led to the military takeovers in (a) Gabon, (b) Burkina Faso, and (c) Niger, which include, among others, the manipulation of democratic processes related to constitutional term limits; electoral problems; governance gaps resulting in the manipulation of government accountability mechanisms; security vulnerabilities exacerbated by terrorism and violent extremism; foreign political and military interference; transnational organised crime; siphoning of benefits from natural resources away from the population; youth unemployment and climate change. In this regard, the African Union highlighted the need to facilitate the consolidation of constitutionalism and address the challenge of military takeovers and emphasised the importance of strengthening the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), the African Governance Architecture (AGA) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). Cooperation among AU Members States and stakeholders, it affirmed, will advance the implementation of normative frameworks that would be of benefit to the continent.
3. Citizens of the aforementioned countries have full democratic rights to participate in free and fair elections. However, these rights can only be fully protected by conducting regular elections, monitored by the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, and other international observers. South Africa stands ready to share its experiences with all countries, with regards to democracy, governance, national reconciliation, and the peaceful resolution of conflict. South Africa supports the implementation of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.
4. South Africa continues to support the African Unions Agenda 2063 and AU flagship projects aimed at achieving maximum benefits from our natural resources.