Behind Gabon’s eruption in post-election conflict, its citizens are among the strongest in Africa in their support for multiparty democracy and their rejection of non-democratic alternatives, a new analysis by Afrobarometer shows.
Among 36 African countries surveyed in 2014/2015, Gabon ranks near the top in favouring multiparty competition and term limits on presidents, as well as in disapproving of one-party and one-man rule, according to citizen responses collected in September and October 2015.
Large majorities also expressed support for democracy in general and for elections as the best way to choose leaders, although on these issues Gabon ranks only average or below. Gabon’s less enthusiastic endorsement of elections aligns with citizens’ strikingly negative views on the national electoral commission (CENAP) and the fairness of the country’s elections (see press release titled: In Gabon, overwhelming public distrust of CENAP and election quality forms backdrop for presidential vote dispute.
Findings on citizens’ perceptions of electoral management institutions and the quality of elections in Gabon and 35 other African countries will be released in a new Afrobarometer report on 6 September 2016.
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