When a leader stays in power too long, it’s not just about politics—it’s about term limits, legal rules that cap how long an elected official can serve in a single office. Also known as presidential term limits, these rules exist to stop one person from turning a government into a personal kingdom. In Africa, where colonial borders and post-independence power struggles created fragile systems, term limits were meant to be a guardrail. But too often, they’ve become targets.
Look at countries like Kenya, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. Leaders there have pushed to extend their time in office—sometimes by changing constitutions, sometimes by pressuring courts, and sometimes by simply ignoring the rules. In 2023, Kenya’s inheritance battle over former president Mwai Kibaki’s estate reignited debates about what happens when term limits are ignored and power passes through family ties instead of elections. In Nigeria, critics warn that President Tinubu’s consolidation of control, along with party-switching and voter suppression, is pushing the country toward one-party rule, a system where only one political group holds power, often through legal manipulation. And in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo, leaders have rewritten constitutions to stay in power, turning term limits into paper promises.
Term limits aren’t just about fairness—they’re about stability. When leaders know they’ll have to step down, they’re more likely to plan for the future instead of looting the treasury. They’re more likely to invest in institutions, not just loyalists. But when term limits are removed, it opens the door to unrest. Protests, legal battles, and even violence often follow. The democracy, a system where citizens choose their leaders through free and fair elections in countries like Ghana and Botswana has held stronger because their leaders respected these limits. Meanwhile, nations that eroded them are now wrestling with legitimacy crises.
What you’ll find in the posts below aren’t just headlines—they’re real stories of power, resistance, and the quiet battles over who gets to rule. From court rulings that overturned illegal extensions to grassroots movements demanding accountability, these pieces show how term limits aren’t just legal clauses—they’re the heartbeat of a functioning democracy.
Paul Biya won Cameroon's 2025 presidential election with 54% of the vote, extending his 43-year rule. Despite legal challenges over his age and health, he remains Africa's second-longest-serving leader amid low turnout and opposition claims of fraud.
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