A Critical Review of ‘Third Termism’ in African Politics from an International Law Perspective
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2017-03-29
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The return to democracy in Africa, following the fall of the Berlin Wall, saw most African countries drafting and adopting new constitutions which seek to entrench respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law in the governance ethos of their countries. In most of these constitutions, a two-term limit was specified for a regime to remain in power. Yet, for the past few years, African citizenry are witnessing a trend where their political leaders have had their constitutions doctored to allow for third or indefinite terms, popularly referred to broadly as 'third termism.' The presentation will seek to explain this phenomenon relying on traditional African political system of life-long monarchical rules on which the one-party state was modeled and implemented in most African states between the time of independence and until coups d'état became a means of regime change on the continent. Another model which will be used to analyse this emerging trend is the agenda of exporting 'instant democracy and instant capitalism' by the US under the Clinton and Bush administrations. The presentation will situate the discussion in the context of international law and examine how the principles of unconstitutional change in government developed by the Organisation of African Unity/African Union (OAU/AU) together with the application of the concept of collective recognition of governments could be applied to deal with the 'third termism' phenomenon
Description
Inter - College Lecture
Keywords
democracy, Africa, new constitutions, power