Repeated Constitutional Modifications are an Abuse of Power, and Their Authors are Predators and Usurpers - Africa Report

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta has already announced a constitutional moment in the country that will see the country ammend the 2010 constitution. 

Some critics opposed to the constitutional change dubbed 'Building Bridges Initiative' have raised a red flag interpreting the move as Uhuru's attempt to continue clinging in power whether as President or on a different capacity with substantial executive power. The President has rubbished this notion.

Regardless, these repeated constitutional modifications are an abuse of power, and their authors are predators and usurpers, the Africa Report writes.

The die is cast the moment the constitution is flouted and the red line drawn by the national conferences of the 1990s is clearly crossed.

We should fear for the worst. And the worst has a name. It is called the single party, parliament without opposition, president-for-life. We all know those evils.

So, from now on, let’s express our disapproval loud and clear. Let’s reject any idea of a third term anywhere in Africa! We remember Nelson Mandela, who after all the sacrifices made for his people, promised to serve only one term and he kept his promise despite the strong pressure exerted on him by his party and unscrupulous advisers.

It is clear that the new attempt at usurpation and confiscation of power in Ivory Coast will be emulated across Africa if it succeeds.

Guinea’s President Alpha Condé, who no longer feels alone in his desire to succeed himself, hurried to send a warm message of congratulations to his Ivorian colleague.

ECOWAS sanctioned Mali after the military coup. But why are they turning a blind eye to the constitutional putsches underway in Abidjan and Conakry? Do these institutions want us to believe that the coup de force of the civilian politicians is more appropriate than that of the senior officers?

This ambiguous attitude is highly damaging to the democratic process that began in the early 1990s.

We now need to warn the so-called committees of experts that are supposed to work on constitutional reforms and that are so easily convinced or coaxed. 

The denial of democracy and the destruction of any future for the young people whose prospects have been sacrificed in African countries anaesthetised by an oligarchy that knows no counterweight, no soul and no opponent.

If we are not careful, soon presidents will no longer be satisfied with modifying constitutions, they will make lawlessness or the lack of change in power the norm of public life.

Let’s make sure it doesn’t come to that!