Reports say that Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan intends to modify the Constitution to run for a third term in 2020. The Memo East Daily Monitor reported that sources close to the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) have confirmed that President Omar Al-Bashir plans to make changes to the existing constitution to permit him to run in 2020.

A previous Constitutional amendment in 2005 scrapped term limits and Bashir had earlier stated he would not run for elections in 2020. Al-Bashir has been President of Sudan since 1989 and over-saw a violent conflict that led to the break-away of South Sudan in 2011. According to a recent article in Africanews, “Sudan’s ruling party says it will back its leader President Omar Al-Bashir as a candidate in the 2020 election, state news agency SUNA reported on Friday, a move that would require a constitutional amendment.”

According to that article in Africanews, while Bashir “has not explicitly stated his intention to run again”, pronouncements from his party might effectively serve as “a people’s call”, a potential trick to confer popular support for the move.

Unfortunately, were Bashir eventually declares his intention to run for Presidency in 2020 officially, he would not be the first African President to push for a third term.

In effect, what has come to be know as ‘third termism’ (seeking more than two terms in office by changing the rules) has become fashionable on the African continent as the following table I put together shows.

Trends in ‘third termism’ in Africa since 1999

Spurious reasons provided by third termists include that it is democratic and that it is a sovereign right.

However, third termism is all but any of these. Actually it is an act of subversion and an impediment not only to democracy but to peace, security and stability on the African continent.

Third termism serves only the selfish interests of African dictators like Bashir.

Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Another term in office, after more than 30 years as Sudan’s chief executive, will not only enable Bashir to continue enjoying power but will provide him much needed presidential immunity.