The return of the life presidency

In the west African country of Chad, citizens apparently approved a series of constitutional amendments that would allow strongman Idriss Deby to seek a third term as head of state. This was after the opposition had called for a boycott of the poll.

"The results that were published were imaginary and do not reflect reality because the people massively rejected the power of President Deby on the 6 June when there was a massive boycott," said opposition spokesman Ibni Oumar.

Of course, Deby's party had a different view.

This occurs in an increasingly repressive context. The former military leader has jailed three journalists who reported unflatteringly on the regime.

The first article [of one journalist] reported a resurgence of anti-government rebel movements in eastern Chad. The second described an alleged massacre of civilians in eastern Chad that arose from conflicts between local populations, aggravated by the influx of refugees from the neighboring Darfur region of Sudan, according to sources interviewed by [Committee to Protect Journalists]. The article alleged that government security forces had participated in the massacre, and the newspaper printed a front-page photo of some of the victims.

A wave of democratizing rhetoric swept through Africa in the early 90s. In some countries, like Ghana, Benin and Senegal, democracy actually took hold. In others, regimes simply erected a facade of democracy. Two-term limits of presidents were written into most African constitutions as a guard against the president-for-life plague that infested Africa in the 70s and 80s. However, numerous countries have since rigged referenda to repeal those term limits. Tunisia, Guinea, now Chad. Uganda is presently debating a similiar move. Only Zambia's political class, particularly the ruling party, has had enough backbone to block such a move.