Uganda’s ruling party, the National Resistance Movement, has proposed scrapping the age-75 limit for presidential candidates and extending the length of a presidential term from five to seven years. The proposal, which would require a constitutional amendment, has the backing of President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled Uganda for over 30 years. The moves would […]
Africa articles on Democracy Chronicles
News about the struggle for democracy on the ancient continent of Africa where fifty-four nations represent one of the great frontiers for democracy. Also see our World Democracy section! (FYI, Egypt is found in the Middle East section.)
Two Term Presidential Limit Under Threat Across Africa
As tyrants come up against the presidential term-limits included in many multi-party constitutions, a significant number are refusing to relinquish power. Instead, a good number of leaders have sought to secure a third term.
When Monarchs Run For Elections: Leadership Alternation in Africa
A study in which we look at the level of democracy in four countries where the present incumbent has been in power for more than 15 years and four other countries where two or more Presidents succeeded in office in the last 15 years.
Angolan Journalist Indicted For Exposing Government Corruption
Rafael Marques, winner of 2017 NED Democracy Award returns home to legal harassment
South Africa to Hold Secret Vote to Oust President Zuma
South Africa’s top jurists ruled parliament can hold a no-confidence vote against the president
VIDEO: Using Poetry to Fight For Sudanese Free Speech
Poetry in a place that regularly ranks towards the bottom in press freedom and free speech
The Case of Zimbabwe’s Competitive Authoritarian Regime
2017 has already seen Zimbabwe’s social movements scaling down efforts to encourage government to act on high unemployment, rampant corruption and upholding with basic human rights due to threats of reprisals.
Do Term Limits Have the Power to Save African Democracy?
In comparing African countries, those with term limits for the position of the Chief Executive are more likely to have democratic advancements or to be more democratic than those in which there are no term limits.
Congolese Artists Rely on Unusual System of Political Patronage
Why Congo’s poor musicians name-drop powerful people like politicians in their tracks
The Significance of the Old Age of African Presidents
One-man-rule through successive winnings in multi-party elections can therefore only happen through a botched democratic process transforming any such democracy into a nominal democracy.