The transition from one African leader to another is often associated with uncertainty and even peril. That’s when there’s any transition at all, given the lack of term limits – or the failure to observe them. Thankfully, this isn’t true of all countries. Not all African leaders fall for the easy temptation of prolonging their terms of office.
These recently published articles add different strokes to the variegated African political canvas.
Following the sudden death of Tanzanian president John Magufuli, the East African nation of 60 million people witnessed a smooth transfer of power to vice-president Samia Suluhu Hassan. She became the country’s sixth president and is currently the only woman running a country on the continent. Nicodemus Minde assesses her leadership style and what she brings to the job.
In West Africa, Niger’s president Mahamadou Issoufou is overseeing the first democratic transition between elected leaders since independence from France more than 60 years ago. This was the main reason he was awarded the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. But was this deserved? Sebastian Elischer explains why he has reservations.
Then there are those who have been around for some time. Take Chad’s Idriss Déby Itno, who has been in power for 30 years and is gearing up to take on his sixth mandate as head of state. Helga Dickow sets out what resistance to his regime, shown passionately during the latest election cycle, means for him.
An even longer-serving leader, Paul Biya of Cameroon, marks 38 years in power this year. Julius A. Amin explains why Biya’s long rule has robbed the once tranquil nation of its credibility as a stable and peaceful country.
And, finally obituaries of two controversial leaders: Adrien Ratsimbaharison assesses the legacy of Madagascar’s Didier Ratsiraka while Aikande Clement Kwayu looks back at the life of Tanzania's John Magufuli.
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