Crouching in power in Africa through constitutional reforms

Several other African leaders have also sought to cling to power through changes to the constitution.

Here are some examples.

Success

In Rwanda, voters in 2015 overwhelmingly supported a referendum that removed the boundaries of the constitution, allowing President Paul Kagame – in power since 1994 – to potentially govern until 39, in 2034.

The same year, the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) voted by a landslide on constitutional changes that would allow veteran sovereign Denis Sassou Nguesso to seek a third term. He was re-elected in 2016.

In Zimbabwe, a new constitution passed in 2013 allowed Robert Mugabe to run for another election, which he won. He was forced to resign in 2017 after 37 years in power.

Idriss Deby Itno has been in power since 1990 thanks to a constitutional amendment adopted in 2005 after a disputed referendum.

In Uganda, also in 2005, a constitutional reform abolished the limits of presidential terms. Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, was re-elected for a fifth term in 2016.

In Togo in 2002, a constitutional amendment authorizing the president to seek unrestricted reelection paved the way for Gnassingbe Eyadema, who has been in power since 1967. , for

Upon his death in 2005, his son Faure Gnassingbé took over and has since won three contested elections. Opposition seeks to return to two-term limit

Crisis

Burundi was plunged into a bloody political crisis after Pierre Nkurunziza won a highly controversial third term in 2015 , according to the opposition.

In May 2018, Burundians overwhelmingly voted in a referendum for constitutional changes including the extension of presidential terms, allowing Nkurunziza to remain in office until 2034

But a month later, Nkurunziza announced that he would resign. 2020.

The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, was forced – but refused – to resign at the end of 2016 after reaching his constitutional limit of two terms.

The Constitutional Court declared that he could remain in office until his successor was elected. After much delay, causing deadly demonstrations, a vote is scheduled for December 23, 2018.

Foiled

In Burkina Faso, the announcement in 2014 that the longtime president Blaise Compaore sought to extend his power beyond 30 years brought hundreds of thousands of protesters to the streets. Compaore was forced to withdraw.

In Malawi, parliament in 2002 prevented Bakili Muluzi from applying for a third term in 2004.

The then Zambian president, Frederick Chiluba, tried unsuccessfully to amend the constitution in 2001 to obtain a third term, but was forced to yield to popular pressure.