Yoweri Museveni and the strongmen of Africa

Yoweri Museveni has been ruling Uganda since 1986

Yoweri Museveni was a key figure in the uprisings that toppled Ugandan leaders Idi Amin (1971–79) and Milton Obote (1980–85). In the early days, he was celebrated by the West as part of a new generation of African leaders. There is no doubt that during Museveni's presidency, Uganda has experienced some stability and economic growth.

However, the suppression of political opposition and constitutional amendments scrapping presidential term limits (2005) and the presidential age limit (2017), thus enabling extension of his rule, seem to have blighted what would have been a great legacy.

Problems begin when leaders start to fantasise that they are indispensable. Museveni and many African leaders forget that only great institutions can deliver great nations. Humans come and go but great institutions remain. This is why men like George Washington, the first president of the United States, are still fondly remembered as great men and leaders.  Self-obsessed African leaders are not interested in following such good examples.

Museveni is 74 and for all his years in office he has failed to groom a successor. It is difficult to understand why African leaders want to remain in office until people get tired of them. For example, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe was only disgraced out of office last November at the age of 94.

In Uganda, there will not be another presidential vote until 2023 and still Mr Museveni is showing no signs of grooming a successor.



Paul Biya of Cameroon

The trend for extending terms in office is a common thing in Africa. We have seen this in Rwanda, Burundi, Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where leaders have re-written constitutions or turned to the courts.

Africa’s longest serving leaders can be found in west Africa where Cameroon’s president Paul Biya, who came to power 43 years ago, is campaigning for his seventh term. Teodoro Obiang has ruled the neighbouring state of Equatorial Guinea since 1979.

Who will tell these African leaders that they are a dead weight on the aspirations of their long-suffering peoples? Thousands of young African men and women continue to risk their lives on the seas trying to leave a continent where they see no hope for the future.