The dictators as models
Jibrin Ibrahim
Prebendal Rule and the Democracy Challenge in Africa
Jibrin Ibrahim, Deepening Democracy Column, Daily Trust, 11th July 2025
The post 1990 return of democracy in Africa skipped many countries that had established successful dictatorships that stood firm. In Equatorial Guinea, the 82 years old dictator, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has been in power since 1979, making him the longest-serving president in the world. He initially seized power through a military coup and has since remained in office through multiple meaningless re-elections without a level playing ground for the opposition, massive violations of human rights and lack of a free press. Meanwhile, hisson, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, is the First Vice President and is poised to ascend to the throne of daddy.
Paul Biya is the current President of Cameroon and is 91 years old. He has been in power since 1982, making him the second-longest-serving leader in Africa. Arrangements are advanced to present him in the forthcoming elections in October 2025 even if he is not aware as he has gone completely senile. When he had his wits around him, he made no arrangements for succession so he must be kept in power till he dies and the fight to the finish between his wife, children and other members of the cabal commences.
Yoweri Museveni (born 15 September 1944) is Uganda’s dictator who has been in power since 1986. He is the third longest serving dictator in the world after the two above. In January 2021, Museveni was reelected to a sixth term with 58.6% of the vote, despite many videos and reports showing ballot box stuffing, over 400 polling stations with 100% voter turnout and human rights violations. Museveni’s son, Muhozi Kainerugaba, born in 1974 is the Chief of Defence Forces and Chairman of the of the Patriotic League of Uganda, a pressure group lobbying for presidency.
These are the examples venerated by so many other wannabe dictators in Africa who want or had wanted to be rulers for life. In Senegal, President Abdoulaye Wade and Macky Sall; in Guinea, Alpha Conde, In Nigeria, Sani Abaca and so on. The latest are the four military dictators that have taken over power in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Guinea, actively engaged in democracy bashing and establishing the levers for arbitrary rule in a post truth world in which they have acquired competence in mind-manipulation using artificial intelligence trolls on the internet.
Of course, Togo stands out as an important case study. Eyadema ruled the country for 38 years and his son Faure has been in power since 2005 meaning they have been in power for almost sixty years. This has not gone without resistance. President Faure Gnassingbe’s extended rule has been consistently contested but he has managed to survive. From 26 to 28 June this year, thousands took to the streets of Lome to protest constitutional reforms that will enable President Faure Gnassingbe to remain in power indefinitely. The 59-year-old was recently sworn in as president of the Council of Ministers, a powerful executive role with no term limits under a newly adopted parliamentary system. The protests were swiftly and violently suppressed. At least four people were killed, dozens were injured, and more than 60 were arrested, according to local civil society groups. Such protests have been happening since he took over power when his father died in 2005. But this country which for long has been used to political fatigue and fractured opposition appears to be taking a new turn. There is a rupture and a generational break rejecting 58 years of political inheritance, from father to son, that has brought nothing but poverty, repression, and humiliation. Most of the protesters are young and have never known another leader. They have grown up with frequent blackouts, crumbling infrastructure, joblessness and shrinking freedoms. The constitutional change, which removed term limits from the new executive role and eliminated direct presidential elections, was a red line. What is perhaps more telling than the protests themselves is that traditional opposition parties that have been weakened by decades of co-optation and exile have taken a back seat and artists, influencers from the diaspora and civil society activists have taken over leadership. This new leadership is aware they are on their own because while they were being killed, the international community, the African Union and ECOWAS were silent.
Emeagwali, Gloria (History)
Professor of History/African Studies, CCSU
Chief Editor- "Africa Update"
https://sites.ccsu.edu/afstudy/archive.html
Gloria Emeagwali's Documentaries
www.vimeo.com/gloriaemeagwali
www.africahistory.net
Founding Coordinator, African Studies, CCSU
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