A Commentary on Traditional Fomba and Democratic Governance in Madagascar, 2021–2026

This commentary analyses the complex interplay between traditional *fomba* (customary practices) and formal democratic governance in contemporary Madagascar. It addresses the critical problem of how patriarchal and gerontocratic traditional structures, which often marginalise women, coexist with a modern democratic system constitutionally committed to gender equality. Employing a rigorous qualitative, desk-based analysis, this study examines specific policy documents (including the 2023 constitutional reform proposals), electoral commission data from 2019-2023, and recent ethnographic studies on Malagasy local governance. Through an African feminist institutionalist lens, the analysis demonstrates that, while recent institutional reforms created new quotas for women’s political participation, the enduring authority of traditional elders and customary councils acts as a significant, informal barrier. These parallel systems routinely undermine formal gender equity by privileging male lineage and seniority in community decision-making. The significance of this analysis lies in its evidence that democratic consolidation requires a deliberate, context-sensitive engagement with traditional governance, rather than its sidelining. The commentary concludes by advocating for a transformative dialogue aimed at reforming, not discarding, *fomba* to harness its cultural legitimacy for inclusive governance, thereby centring African epistemologies in the pursuit of substantive women’s leadership.