Although in most African countries, what seems to be prevalent within the polity is an endless struggle for power, there are quite a few where everything seems to be just under control. While the government of some leaders are being severely challenged and threatened, some others have been able to cleverly or forcefully retain power and frighten away every form of opposition. There are also some countries in Africa today where issues of inter-party conflicts and manipulation of electoral processes are almost non-existent.It is fascinating to note that Africa has not only experienced some of the longest regimes in the past, but also currently has some of the world’s longest serving leaders. Many of these power-drunk leaders have not only succeeded in taken sole ownership of power in their countries, they have also succeeded in converting the wealth of their countries for their own individual purposes. With the exception of a few notable ones, most African leaders seem to be addicted to power that handing it over often becomes very difficult for them. As soon as they get into power, whether through a military coup or a civilian election, they begin to plot our strategies that will enable them stay in power indefinitely. This phenomenon, which has been described as the primary weakness of African leaders has no doubt proved them to be greedy and inconsiderate.It should be noted that in the history of Africa, Nelson Mandela is the only African ex-president to have willingly stepped down as president after just one term in office. Africa has produced some of the worlds most conceited, insensitive, nasty and autocratic leaders. One of such men was Cote d’Ivoire’s Houphouet-Boigny who ruled his country for a total of 33 years. Although Houphouet-Boigny succeeded in unifying the people of Cote d’Ivoire in his time, he also suppressed every form of opposition that could have served as a threat to his government. In the West, Houphouet-Boigny was commonly known as the “Sage of Africa” or the “Grand Old Man of Africa.” From the 1940s until his death in December 1993, he played a leading role in the decolonisation of Africa and in his country's politics. He moved the country's capital from Abidjan to his hometown, Yamoussoukro and built the world's largest church there, the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro, at a cost of US$300 million. Like many of his predecessors, Houphouet-Boighy did not willingly hand over power, he died while in office. At the time of his death, he was the longest-serving leader in Africa's history and the third longest-serving leader in the world, after Fidel Castro of Cuba and Kim Il-Sung of North Korea.Houphouet-Boigny however is only one of the many sit-tight rulers that Africa has ever produced. There were many others that also succeeded in holding on to power in their own countries. Notable among them are King Hassan II of Morocco, who ruled the country for a total of 31 years and Emperor Halie Salasie of Ethiopia, who ruled for 44 years and is currently the longest so far on the continent. Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia presided over his country for 27 years, Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire ruled for 32 years, Julius Nyerere ruled Tanzania for 21 years and Kamuzu Banda ruled in Malawi for 28 years. Lasana Conte of Guinea was another man who held so tightly to the helm of power in Guinea until he died in 2008. Conte gained power though a military coup on April 3, 1984, when he ousted the then interim president that took over following the death of President Ahmed Sekou Toure, Guinea’s Head of State since independence. Conte, just like many other political leaders began on a seemingly good note, ordering the release of 250 political leaders and encouraging many citizens to return home, but he too soon began “falling in love” with power and he held on to it for 24 years until death took him away. When Conte assumed power, he suspended the constitution of the country and banned political activities from taking place. After much pressure from international bodies, Conte eventually gave way to a multi-party system in the ‘90s. Political parties became legalised in 1992 in preparation for the elections which were to hold in December the following year. In the first election, Conte won with a landslide victory, claiming 51.7% of the votes, leaving the second runner-up, Alpha Conde with only 19.6%. The second multi-party elections tool place in December 2003 and Conte won again, this time with 56% of the votes. Conte still not satisfied, decided to amend the constitution so that he would be able to run for a third term. Conte did not only succeed in procuring his third term, he also was able to extend the period of the tenure to seven years. But soon, his health began to deteriorate rapidly and efforts to revive him proved abortive. On December 3, 2008, the President of the Guinean National Assembly, Aboubakar Sompaore came up to announce on television that Conte, whose tenure was supposed to end in December 2010, had already died. Barely six hours after his death, the Leader of the Guinean Armed Forces, General Diarra Camara, ordered Captain Moussa David Camara, to announce on the radio that the military had already seized power in the country. Conte’s refusal to hand over power, in spite of his ill health, depicts the character of many African leaders today. Despite the fact that many of them are old, sick and void of ideas, they still choose to cling to power, doing everything possible to suppress the opposition. The attitudes of many African leaders have become a major threat to the rule of law and good governance. Many of these leaders have already become obstacles to progress and development in their respective countries as they consistently refuse to play politics in a fair and even handed manner. They are often tyrannical and intolerant of opposing views.Looking at the length of time over which these men ruled their respective countries, one would wonder whether it was the desire to stabilise their respective countries or the desire to break records that motivated them to stay so long in power. Just in January this year, Omar Bongo, the president of the relatively tiny, oil-rich Gabon marked 40 years as leader in the country. Although his record seems to be impressive enough, the 74-year old Bongo still has five years before the expiration of his tenure (if he does not seek for yet another elongation). The implication of this is that by the end of his tenure in 2014, Omar Bongo would have spent a record-breaking 45 years as the leader of Gabon, making him the longest serving president ever in Africa. There even still appears to be brighter years ahead for Omar Bongo who seems to be enjoying good health as opposed to many of his contemporaries who are battling with one ailment or the other. And who knows? Maybe before the end of his tenure, he may still want to manoeuvre his way to remain in power. President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe is another man whose political malice has caused no small stir in his country and the world at large. Mugabe today, is regarded as a dreaded leader, and his refusal to hand over power despite clamours from his own people, has drawn a lot of attention from many international organisations. Although there are actually some other countries where their leaders have even stayed longer in power than Mugabe, his own case seems to be a bit more on the side of turmoil. Under his rule, the health and well-being of the Zimbabwean people has dropped dramatically. According to the World Health Organisation, Zimbabwe has the world’s shortest life expectancy- 37 years for men and 34 for women. According to UNICEF, the country also has the greatest percentage of orphans (about 25%) and the worst annual inflation rate (1,281% as of 2007). Mugabe himself has said, “Zimbabwe is mine” and has rejected calls from some African leaders to step down. He also told delegates of his ruling Zanu-PF party at its annual conference, “I will never, never, never surrender.” Robert Mugabe is not the only president to have ruled a country for 25 years; there are some who have ruled for even longer years. Notable among them are Muammar Gadaffi of Libya, whose rather frightening face has been able to scare off every opposition and has retained power in his country for the past 39 years. Gadaffi was commissioned into the Libyan army in 1965, and soon began laying the groundwork for the overthrow of the Libyan monarch, King Idris I, whom he considered a pawn of the Western European nations. Within four years, Gaddafi took control of the army and on September 1, 1969, he seized power in a carefully planned bloodless coup. He assumed command of the Government as Chairman of the ruling Revolutionary Council and declared himself as Commander-in-chief of Libya's armed forces and its government, although he did not promote himself beyond the rank of colonel. Today, Gadaffi still remains in firm control of his government. He is currently the fourth longest serving Head of State and the longest serving head of Government in Africa. Hosni Mubarak of Egypt is a man who has also successfully held on to power for more than 26 years. The 79 year old leader, who was also a former Air Force chief, believes that the longer a person stays in office, the more efficient he becomes in administering the affairs of his country. This principle is what has made him to retain some of his ministers for as long as 20 years. Murabak however fails to understand that staying too long in one particular office could make a person run out of ideas and also deny others, who have better ideas, the chance of proving their worth. Hosni Mubarak came into power on October 6, 1981, following the assassination of President Anwar al-Sadat. He immediately instituted a vigorous economic recovery program within the country and mended relations with other Arab states, which were damaged after Egypt's peace with Israel. He initiated a policy he called “positive neutrality” toward the great powers. Mubarak was re-elected when his National Democratic Party won the October 1987 elections and was thus able to nominate him as the sole candidate for president. In 1993, he was again re-elected for another six year term. In November 1995, just before parliamentary elections, Mubarak's government accused the Muslim Brotherhood of helping violent Islamic groups. Many of the Muslim Brotherhood's members were arrested, and several who planned to run in the elections were tried and sentenced to prison. Critics accused the government of trying to eliminate even peaceful opponents. In the elections that followed, Mubarak's National Democratic Party won another overwhelming victory and he was elected to a fourth six-year term in 1999. Paul Biya of Cameroon is another man who seems to be playing deadly games with the polity of his country. Having ruled Cameroon for 25 years, President Paul Biya wants to go on ruling until 2018, when he will be 85, whereas the constitution decrees that he cannot stand for a further seven-year term in the 2011 elections. Although there are dissenters in the ruling party, President Biya would not have much trouble persuading his parliament to pass the necessary constitutional amendment, since he controls it through his iron grip on the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (RDPC).Some observers fear that Cameroon might replicate the troubles of Ivory Coast and Kenya. Mr Biya has held power far longer and has entrenched it far deeper than Kenya's Mwai Kibaki, who was originally democratically elected. The presidential succession is particularly problematic, because Mr Biya is not grooming a successor. Cameroon also has no powerful opposition leader (ethnically based or otherwise) such as Raila Odinga. Yet many of the ingredients for an eventual explosion are in place.Sudan is one of Africa’s countries that has suffered the greatest effects of war in recent years. The ongoing civil war in Sudan is said to have so far displaced more than 4 million southerners. Some have fled into southern cities, such as Juba while some others trekked as far north as Khartoum and to neighbouring countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Egypt, and so on. The crisis has made many unable to grow food or earn money to feed themselves, and malnutrition and starvation has become widespread. However, in spite of all these occurrences, Omar al-Bashir, the leader of Sudan, who has been accused of genocide, is still not ready to leave even after twenty years in power. Sudan is the largest country in Africa, (approximately the size of Western Europe) and since independence in 1956 has been roiled by civil war almost continuously. This war was initially between northern Sudan and the south, which objected to its isolation and lack of development in comparison to the north. President Omar al-Bashir was brought to power following a military coup in 1989. Under al-Bashir's leadership, the new military government suspended political parties and introduced an Islamic legal code on the national level. He then became Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation (a newly established body with legislative and executive powers for what was described as a transitional period), and assumed the posts of chief of state, prime minister, chief of the armed forces, and minister of defence. On 16 October 1993, al-Bashir's powers increased when he appointed himself President of the country, after which he disbanded the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation and all other rival political parties. The executive and legislative powers of the council were later given to al-Bashir completely.On 14 July 2008, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Luis Moreno-Ocampo, alleged that al-Bashir bore individual criminal responsibility for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed since 2003 in Darfur. The prosecutor accused al-Bashir of having “masterminded and implemented” a plan to destroy the three main ethnic groups, the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa, with a campaign of murder, rape and deportation. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for al-Bashir on 4 March, 2009, indicting him on five counts of crimes against humanity (murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture and rape) and two counts of war crimes (pillaging and intentionally directing attacks against civilians). The charges against President al-Bashir have been strongly rejected. Chairman Muammar al-Gaddafi of the African Union referred to the indictment as a form of terrorism. He also said that the warrant was only an attempt by the west to re-colonise their former colonies. Al-Bashir himself has rejected the charges, saying "whoever has visited Darfur, met officials and discovered their ethnicities and tribes ... will know that all of these things are lies."Omar al-Bashir is an example of an obstinate leader who, despite his evident failure, still refuses to step down as president. A similar thing happened to Charles Taylor of Liberia. Although Taylor ruled for only six years in Liberia, he also exhibited much of the sit-tight leadership attitude. Taylor, who used to be one of Africa's most prominent warlords, was elected president of the country at the end of the first Liberian Civil War that took place in the early 90s. In mid-1990, Prince Johnson, the former senior commander of Taylor's NPFL broke away and formed the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia, INPFL. Johnson's supporters also split from Taylor's group and captured Monrovia for themselves, depriving Taylor of outright victory.The civil war turned into an ethnic conflict, with seven factions fighting for control of Liberia's resources (especially iron ore, diamond, timber, and rubber). At the official end of the civil war in 1996, Taylor became Liberia's president on 2 August 1997, following a landslide victory in July, in which he took 75 percent of the vote. Taylor's toughest competitor, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, collected only 10 percent of the vote. While in office, he ran down the Armed Forces of Liberia, dismissing between 2,400 to 2,600 former personnel, many of whom were ethnic Krahn brought in by former President Samuel Doe. He then built the Anti-Terrorist Unit, the Special Operations Division of the Liberian National Police, and the Special Security Service, which guards Liberia's presidents. However, peace never returned to Liberia after his election, and during his entire reign, he was forced to fight against pockets of insurgency against his government, with about 60% of the country in the hands of insurgents by 2003.As president, he was known for his flamboyant style and quasi-religious hypocrisy. Upon being charged by the UN of being a gun-runner and diamond smuggler during his presidency, he publicly appeared in all white robes and begged God for forgiveness (while denying the charges). Taylor was paraphrased to have said that “Jesus Christ was accused of being a murderer in his time.” Numerous allegations were levelled at Taylor since he took office in 1997, including continuing to assist rebel forces in Sierra Leone with weapon sales in exchange for diamonds, and helping in acts of atrocities against civilians that have left many thousands dead or mutilated, with unknown numbers of people abducted and tortured. Moreover, he has been criticised for the widespread conscription of children as soldiers in the war in Sierra Leone.In spite of the grievous allegations levelled against him, Taylor was still not willing to relinquish power. It took a public call from the former US president, George W. Bush, for him to willingly resign as president of his country. On 11 August, Taylor resigned, leaving Blah as his successor until a transitional government was established on 14 October.There are also several other countries in Africa where these sit-tight leaders have gone absolute. One is King Mswati II of Swaziland, who is sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarch. He was crowned in April 1987 and has been in power for a total of 22 years. Although political parties had been banned in landlocked Swaziland since 1973, the king introduced a new constitution in 2006, but the ban on political parties remained. The king has kept control over the legislature in a country, plagued by food shortages and one of the world's highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates. Also in Tunisia, President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, now 72 has been ruling for the past 22 years as well. Ben Ali has overseen successful economic reforms and crushed an Islamic fundamentalist opposition since he came to power in 1987. Supporters of Ben Ali have predicted he will seek another mandate when his latest term ends this year. Commentators say he can take credit for making Tunisia the healthiest and best educated nation in North Africa.Apart from the fact that these sit-tight leaders are not willing to leave the seat of power, they are also accumulating vast amount of wealth for themselves and also mismanaging the assets of their respective countries. Omar Bongo of Gabon, for example, is said to be one of the richest men in the world today. Bongo and his family are said to own 39 properties including luxury villas, 70 bank accounts and nine cars in France.Some of the most corrupt African leaders include the late Mobutu Sese Seko of Congo, General Sani Abacha of Nigeria, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Denis Sassou Nguesso, incumbent president of Congo, Eduardo Dos Santos of Angola, Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea, Lansana Conte of Guinea, Arap Moi of Kenya, Gaddafi of Libya, Blaise Campore, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Paul Biya of Cameroon, Jerry Rawlings of Ghana, Charles Taylor of Liberia, Iddriss Deby of Chad Republic, Bakili Muluzi of Malawi, Frederick Chiluba of Zambia and Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia among others. There are others whose corruption status has not yet been determined such as Joseph Kabila, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, Francois Bozize of the Central African Republic and Yahya Jammeh of Gambia. Kenya’s Mwai Kibaki, for example, faced a re-election battle and has been accused of not doing enough to fight corruption which cost Kenya at least $1b a year. Guinea’s Lansana Conte was accused of pocketing 70% of all revenues that came from the sale of bauxite in Guinea. Equatorial Guinea’s Francisco Obiang Nguema presided over a corrupt and despotic regime, curtailed the rights and freedom of his people, silenced opposing views and dealt mercilessly with the media. Many of his country's 600,000 inhabitants live in poverty despite billions of dollars of revenue from oil. He was sued by Transparency International over allegations of corruption and embezzlement. Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power for 23 years, became very popular in promoting nepotism. Museveni is president; his wife Janet First Lady, MP and a Minister; his son Major Muhoozi Kainerugaba an army commander of his elite group and possible successor. Museveni’s younger brother, Caleb Akandwanaho, is senior presidential advisor on defence. His daughter Natasha Karugire is private secretary to the president.Also in Zambia, a High Court in Britain ruled in 2007 that Frederick Chiluba, Kenneth Kaunda’s successor, conspired to rob Zambia of $46 million. The elections that brought Rupiah Banda, the current president into power were decried by the opposition as not being free and fair. In South Africa, Jacob Zuma the new President is embroiled in corruption allegations and although a rape case against him was dismissed by the court, his reputation has been badly damaged. Blaise Campore has ruled Burkina Faso as his personal fiefdom for the 22 years he has been in power. Algeria’s Abdelaziz Bouteflika won his third term after using the rubber stamp parliament to change the constitution of the state. However, Africa has some few shining examples. Botswana, Africa’s most successful economy is also the continent’s only true democratic country where multi-party democracy has been in place since independence in 1966. It is the least corrupt country in Africa and has a good human rights record. It is the only country in the continent where the leaders have used revenue from the natural resources mostly diamond to benefit the people. It is the world's largest producer of diamonds and the trade has transformed it into a middle-income nation. The current president Seretse Khama Ian Khama came to power in 2008. Namibia also joined the community of democratic nations after Sam Nujoma handed over power to his chosen nominee Hifikepunye Pohamba, after three terms as president. Like Botswana, Namibia’s leadership are using revenue from diamond to improve the wellbeing of the people.Judging from the way these sit-tight leaders amass wealth to themselves, we may well assume that many of them do not want to leave the seat of power because they will no longer have access to their countries’ wealth and they will also be liable to face prosecution.Another reason why many African leaders cling to power is because they have what could be called a “messiah mentality” i.e. they often claim that their people love them and that the state of their countries will grow worse if they should resign. In all respects, African leaders have portrayed themselves as bad examples for their people and the world. There is therefore a need for the evolution of a new style of leadership on the continent- a style that encourages mentoring and succession. In the more advanced democracies there is always a succession plan, so that in whatever situation they find themselves, there are always those already groomed to take over. By contrast, succession in Africa is often a gambler's throw so that in most of the continent, including Nigeria, it is not known where the next leader is coming from. There is therefore a need for a re-orientation in Africa. African leaders must learn that a country belongs to its entire people and not just to politicians. Those who succeed others must allow others to succeed them.The president of the Unites States, Barack Obama, in his inaugural speech, on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, sent his warning to some of these sit-tight leaders. He said, “To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history.” The new President, whose message was directed especially to African leaders who continue to stay in power at the expense of their people, warned that they would be judged by their actions. He also said, “To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.”President Obama's message came as a response to most Africans who expressed the wish to see him address the issue of African leaders who have clung to power for decades. It should be recalled that when Obama was only three years old, Africa's longest serving President, Omar Bongo, was already more than four years in power. Observers believe that such a message could be directed to such presidents, to whom he said "you are on the wrong side of history."Meantime, President Obama promised to work with the leaders who are willing to change. Said he, “We will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.” He also pledged to help poor nations. He said, “To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect.”It is therefore expected that the new world Government, headed by the United States president, Barack Obama, will fulfil its pledge in fighting against sit-tightism in Africa. If this is done, then there is a chance that Africa will experience remarkable development at this time.
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