Around Africa, elections have become too inconvenient
This article examines how long-standing leaders in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo manipulated constitutional processes to extend their time in power. It highlights a trend where democratic elections are bypassed or undermined to maintain authoritarian control.
Why it matters
The erosion of electoral processes in African nations poses a significant threat to regional stability and democratic governance.
José Eduardo Van-Dúnem dos Santos was 37 when the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (better known by its Portuguese acronym, MPLA) chose him to succeed its founding president, Augustinho Neto, in September 1979. By 2010, dos Santos had been in power for 31 years. But the shy and retreating dos Santos was neither an enthusiastic glad-hander nor a wildly popular figure.
For a long time, dos Santos laboured in search of a cure for both ailments. In 2010, he finally found one. Under Angola’s 1992 constitution, the president was the only leader with national standing. The citizens elected him directly on a national ticket. In December 2006, the country issued a three-year notice of presidential election to be conducted in 2009 . When the time came, however, President dos Santos could not be bothered with one.
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