The Long Game: African Leaders and the Art of Constitutional Manipulation

This week, I wanted to share a visual that touches on a critical issue affecting many African nations—how some leaders manipulate constitutions to extend their time in power. As VisionAfrique is undergoing a branding shift to focus more on economic growth data and business insights, I hesitated to post this at first. However, I realized that governance and political stability are integral to making informed business decisions across the continent.

In this piece, I present a visual timeline that looks at current African leaders who have overstayed their term limits. It traces their ascent to power and the constitutional modifications they've made to remain in office. Whether you're interested in political trends or passionate about governance, I think you'll find this visual thought-provoking.

Context

African leaders are known to manipulate constitutions to remain in power. This practice raises questions about the state of democracy and governance on the African continent, prompting closer examination of the phenomenon through visual representations like the one presented here.

Visual

This graphic is a timeline depicting how African leaders amend constitutions to extend their rule. The timeline is useful for helping us understand how often the manipulation of constitutions occurs in African countries.

Observations

The visual presents current African leaders and their constitutional changes aimed at prolonging their tenure. Some of the biggest offenders include President Mbasogo in Equatorial Guinea, President Paul Biya in Cameroon, and President Nguesso in the Republic of Congo. Additionally, Museveni, Guelleh, and Kagame are not far behind.

Omissions

While I initially planned to cover all leaders who manipulated constitutions, this proved impractical. I realized it would be much too lengthy, going back to figures like Gaddafi and Mugabe.

Not included in this visual are monarchic leaders such as King Mohammed VI of Morocco, who has been in power since 1999, and King Mswati III of Eswatini, in power since 1986. We also don't see President Afwerki of Eritrea, who has been in power for over 30 years with no term limits.

Data

Data and inspiration for this infographic came from the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. They put together a great overview with a clear table and a map here. Wikipedia also aided in historical accuracy.

Reflections

The manipulation of constitutions to prolong power is a significant challenge to the development of democratic governance in Africa. This trend undermines political stability, which is crucial for the overall progress of the continent. As these practices continue, they pose a risk to the legitimacy of governments and the trust of the people, making it essential for civil society, international organizations, and policymakers to advocate for stronger democratic institutions.

Check out this week's visualization and article here.

About the author

Dara Gbolahan is an Information Designer that believes in the power of visualized data to create meaningful impact. Through VisionAfrique, she regularly publishes data visualizations on Africa, aiming to inform and inspire enthusiasts of the continent.