The article examines a recent speech by João Lourenço, the outgoing president of the African Union, where he emphasized the importance of constitutional order following a coup. Lourenço stated that restoring order should not simply be reliant on the coup leaders holding elections and being elected under a democratic guise. It indicates a need for more rigorous standards in evaluating the legitimacy of regimes that come to power through unconstitutional means. His remarks sparked mixed reactions among the attending heads of state, highlighting divisions within the continent regarding how to handle such situations.

Among the attendees were leaders who have recently come under scrutiny for their respective governments, particularly Mamadi Doumbouya of Guinea and Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema of Gabon, who reportedly did not applaud Lourenço's strong stance against legitimizing coups simply through electoral processes. This signals an ongoing tension in Africa's political landscape, where military interventions challenge traditional governance norms and where the leaders of such interventions seek international legitimacy through democratic means.

The implications of Lourenço's speech resonate beyond immediate reactions; they suggest a call for a collective African stance against the normalization of coups and the establishment of a criteria by which post-coup governments are judged. Additionally, it raises questions about the role of regional bodies like the African Union in imposing sanctions or disapproving of regimes that do not adhere to democratic principles despite claiming electoral legitimacy.