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Latest update: 23/10/2009
Changing the constitution to remain in power
Elections in Tunisia on Oct. 25 will likely see Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who abolished term limits, stay in power. Such a manipulation of the constitution is not unusual in Africa. FRANCE 24 has compiled a list of examples.
By FRANCE 24 (text)
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A constitutional amendment was passed by the Parliament in 2008, abolishing the two-term limit for rulers, allowing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to be re-elected.
Bouteflika has had three five-year mandates, starting with his election in 1999. The next elections are due in 2014.
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When President Blaise Compaore reached the end of his first two seven-year terms in office in 2005, the constitutional council ruled that a 2000 amendment to the constitution limiting the president to two five-year terms did not apply to him since it took effect while he was president. This cleared the way for his candidacy in the 2005 election, which he won.
Compaoré, who took power in a coup in 1987, was elected in 1991 and has been re-elected twice. The next presidential elections are scheduled for 2010.
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CAMEROON
The National Assembly voted in 2008 to change the 1996 constitution to remove the limit of two presidential terms, allowing President Paul Biya to run for re-election in 2011.
Biya assumed the presidency upon the resignation of his predecessor in 1982 and was subsequently elected (as the sole candidate) in 1984 and 1988. He was re-elected again in 1992 in the country’s first multiparty presidential election, then re-elected in 1997 and 2004.
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In 2005, a referendum approved a change to the constitution removing a two-term limit, which allowed President Idriss Deby to run for a third term in 2006.
Elected in 1996 after a new constitution, Deby was re-elected in 2001 and 2006. Next presidential elections are set for 2011.
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In 2003, the constitution was changed to allow President Omar Bongo – approaching his fourth decade in power – to run for an unlimited number of terms. The change also increased term length from five to seven years.
Omar Bongo took power in 1967 and was then elected in 1973, 1979 and 1986. A multiparty system was introduced in 1991, under which he was re-elected in 1993, 1998 and 2005. Bongo died in 2009 after 42 years in power, the world's longest-serving ruler. Elections have been scheduled for August 30.
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The constitution was amended in 1999 to specifically allow President Sam Nujoma a third term. He did not run in 2004. Since the amendment applied only to Nujoma, later presidents have been limited to two five-year terms.
Nujoma's successor, President Hifikepunye Pohamba, was elected in 2004. Next elections will take place in November 2009.
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The 1999 constitution limited the president to two five-year terms and made amending that provision illegal. President Tandja Mamadou called a referendum on a new constitution on August 4. The new rules allow him to stay in power till 2012 and to run for office after that for an unlimited number of terms. After the Parliament and the Constitutional Court opposed the referendum, Tandja dissolved both and began ruling by decree.
President Tandja Mamadou was elected to power in 1999 and reelected in 2004. Next presidential elections are in November 2009.
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President Olusegun Obasanjo's "Third Term Agenda" to have the constitution changed to allow him another run for the presidency was blocked by the Parliament in 2006. Presidents are still limited to two four-year terms.
President Umaru Yar'Adua was elected in 2007. The next elections are expected to take place in 2011.
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Term limits were scrapped in 2002 to allow Gnassingbe Eyadama a third term. Gnassingbe Eyadama took power in 1967 and was elected in 1972, 1979 and 1986. He won the first multiparty presidential elections in 1993 and was re-elected in 1998 and 2003.
After the death of President Gnassingbe Eyadama in February 2005, the army put his son Faure Gnassingbe into office. After an outcry, Faure Gnassingbe resigned and called an election, which he won. The next elections are scheduled for 2010.
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After Zine El Abidine Ben Ali assumed the presidency in 1987, Tunisia's constitution was amended in 1988 to allow presidents no more than two terms. After Ali's first two terms in office, a new amendment in 1998 allowed a third term. Finally, in 2002, term limits were abolished altogether and the age limit raised to 75 (Ben Ali will be 73 in September).
Ben Ali assumed the presidency in 1987, was elected in 1989 and re-elected in 1994 as the only candidate. Alternative candidates were allowed for the first time in 1999, but Ben Ali won with 99.66% of the vote in 1999 and with 94.48% of the vote in 2004. Next elections are scheduled for October 25.
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Parliament removed the two-term limit from the 1995 constitution in 2005 as President Yoweri Museveni was reaching the end of his second term. The changes also introduced a multiparty system.
Yoweri Museveni took power in 1986 and held elections, which he won, in 1996. He was re-elected in 2001 and 2006. Next elections are in 2011.
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Frederick Chiluba was elected in 1991 and re-elected in 1996. He wanted to run for a third term in 2001 but failed to win support for his bid to change the rules. The president is currently limited to two five-year terms.
Chiluba’s successor, Levy Mwanawasa died in office in 2008. He was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah Banda, who was then elected to the post in October of the same year. Next elections are to take place in 2011.
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Comments (11)
continuous regimes
Why does the West insist on sticking it's oar into African politics.
When the colonising nations left most of these banana republics, they at least attempted to instil a sense of democracy into their legislatures.
Most of these legislatures were deliberately set up with fixed term presidential capability, so that much flagrant misuse by the top elite would be 'democratically' curtailed.
Here we are, some decades after WW2, and it is obvious OUR interpretation of the word 'Democracy', and the interpretation by those 'one man bands' in Africa, are being culled from totally different dictionaries.
It is also obvious that the West,(and East these days)cannot leave these places for fear of losing their vital raw materials, so in order to make their involvement appear beneficial and munificent the commercially orientated outsiders, (us that is) come out with the 'democracy' platitudes, until of course we get a Gadaffi, who decides he will deal with who he pleases, and refuses to bend to the will of the outside interloping nations.
This brings down the wrath of those who isist on interfering,(us that is) so we stir up his populace, in the hopes his populace will oust him, which of course happens more often than not.
This is arrogance which is fueled by Eastern Powers
If those African rulers could clearly state they are to stay untill they die, fine? But are they human being or not, because as they cheat at the same time they make foreign powers still our ressources and in turn the population remain starving.. eg is there... who contradicted the NATO to attack GHADAFI at the Afican Union level? By the way, I'am sure, that one day the populations will revenge over Africa ad this will end up such a gready attitude.
eternal power
Acroos view of this examples is composed mostly by Francophonie countries except the case of Cameroo a bilingual country. Why is it that the judiciary in such countries are too liable in favouring the constitutional amendments that leads to either change of mandate or number of mandates in favour of the incumbent head of state. Cameroon and Burkina Faso as case study.
no more excuses!
After 50 years from most African countries independence they are running out of excuses to make their countries economies more prosperous and share power democratically for all its people
This time African are to blame themselves!
SOCIAL, CULTURAL INTEGRATION
While the french influence politically needs to be detached, france and the african continent needs to strengthen their social-cultural relations and eliminate the illutions of francophone anglophone blocks. In my view, these blocks have had a lot to contribute as far as the diunity in the continent is concerned. Therefore to boost social and cultural integrations france needs to engage the african continent in a move aimed at social cultural exchange. since the african continet is rich in its culture, the french should take the advantage of this by opening french schools and cultural centers where culture and language exchange can take place especially in the non francophone african countries.
Africans' Leaders Changing Constitution
Personnally, I wonder whislt Europeans or Americans are trying to decrease the time of ruling their countries, Africans' Leaders who don't rule better prefer to increase that period of ruling! The world in another way of ruling. If our Africans' Presidents never think to improve their population standing of life why should they still want to stay or die in power ? Only God and themselves know...
AFrican Leaders and Power
What is the big attraction for power with african leaders.Is it that they don't understand the that the only constant thing in life is change. Am begining to think alot of them have no confidence in their ability to live, outside the excercising of executive power. They should take a cue from Nyerere and Nelson Mandela. Thank you
changing the rules
my initial response was what'd you expect? afterall, the whites changed timetables multiply before being forced ouT of africa... then i remember,.. they left africa better than we are making it!.. and i wonder... wouldnt it be better if...
africanleader changing the contitution
i think is time for europe to go back colonisage africa again because majority of this country since independence still cant not governe they people,cant not give they people the freedom and justice they deserve .i think most of african leader are faillier,this leader still want colonisage they own people,i ask the word leader to take a new policy for africa continent
why not just be the woer that saves yourselves from anti killing
them truth will set you free you don't have to be the war to be figting but if you are what nmakes a country there would be no wars anymore, we've spent to much on War and not fighting against the odds of needs for sea walls not walls of non entry we could make them like channels and reuse the sources to make a greater nation anywhere on this continental shelf thing thats going on around the world with tsunami (the oceans coming back) well it's the true meaning of need for strength and walls like in Turkey , but we have no ideals about how tall , well think of it this way we could have retaining walls around city's and underneath them for support for all mankinds buisness, here while on the earth which is always been here with mankind since the dawning of birth to man , we needed walls of retainments so we could live our fresh air farming life with trees that produce LIFE for all of a Good nature like the scarlet Maple tree never needed tapped for syrups it was for fresher air by itself. maybe you can see that War always leaves all in Debt to each other but have you thought why, we all are Brothers of a greater since of knowledges that are needed for supporting our childrens lives , Ihave to go now But I am for sure it's the said curing answer, look how the old aztecs were living here once by themselves and you'll find why we are still that one bigger family looking fr answers to a new frsh Better Day, it's the way of reality that works. Dennis Wayne , your old Uncle Beau!
appreciation
i think they do what african need
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