Sudan leader overstaying welcome
If Bashir’s last few years in office are anything to go by then his bid for another term might spell further disaster
SUDAN’S ruling party, the National Congress Party (NCP), chose President Omar al-Bashir on Friday to run as its candidate in the 2020 elections. He has been in power since 1989 and in 2020 he will be 76 years old.
The constitution allows a two-term limit and the NCP’s charter also has similar restrictions. Both will have to be amended to make Bashir’s 2020 candidacy a legal possibility – a move that is unfortunately common in many African countries.
While serving as a colonel in the army, he came to power in 1989 in a bloodless coup that saw then prime minister Sadiq al-Mahdi lose power to the very ambitious colonel. Bashir’s new military government suspended all political parties, dissolved parliament and began introducing Islamic law into the national legal code.
In 1993 Bashir was appointed president and three years later elections were held. Although there were no political parties at the time, 39 candidates ran as individuals against Bashir.
He reportedly secured 75.4% of the vote though the elections were clouded with allegations of irregularities.
In 1998, Bashir introduced a new constitution that allowed the formation of political parties. In the same year, he flexed his military muscle to oust his former ally, Hassan al-Turabi whom he suspected of trying to topple him.
Bashir also had to deal with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army which had been fighting for independence from Khartoum for several years. It eventually succeeded resulting in South Sudan becoming an independent nation in 2011 and Africa’s newest country.
Sudan’s first multiparty elections were in 2010. Reports of intimidation and rigging were rife as Bashir allegedly clinched 68% of the vote, marking the commencement of another five-year presidential term. In 2015, elections were held and Bashir was declared victorious having secured 94% of the vote. Once again, allegations of electoral fraud and the suspicious withdrawal of the main opposition parties have raised questions about the credibility of his victory.
In addition to dubious election results, Bashir’s reign has been characterised by brutality, racism, inequality, crimes against humanity and genocide.
He stands accused by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of five counts of crimes against humanity among them murder, extermination, torture and rape; two counts of war crimes including intentionally attacking civilians and pillaging; and three counts of genocide. The allegations have their roots in the context of the Darfur War, which has seen the deaths of about 300 000 people and the displacement of millions.
Sudan, under Bashir’s leadership, has seen a handful of individuals prosper economically while the majority languish in abject poverty and endure grave human rights violations. If his last few years in office are anything to go by then this bid for an additional term might spell further disaster for many Sudanese.
If he should step down (which is unlikely but let us for a moment dabble in this fantasy), it could also change the international criminal justice landscape as the nations who have failed to arrest Bashir, as required by the ICC, would no longer be able to hide behind the claim that he has immunity as a sitting head of state.
In order to run again in 2020 the constitution must be amended, a move the NCP’s consultative counsel is reportedly willing to make. Prominent member Amin Hassan Omer has voiced his concern about the dangerous amendments.
Bashir would not be the first African leader to do whatever it takes to remain in power. President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi is another example. His seeking an unconstitutional additional term led to a nationwide outcry and protests in 2015. The state’s response was heavy handed and violent, leading to the alleged commission of crimes against humanity including murder, persecution, rape and torture.
Under Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s watch the constitution was amended in 2005 to remove presidential term limits, allowing him to continue his reign. This year a court upheld the amendment that removes the presidential age limit of 75. Museveni is 73 years old and intends to run for elections again in 2021.
Rwanda’s Kagame might remain in office until 2034 if he so desires after a 2015 referendum was conducted and most Rwandans voted in favour of constitutional amendments of presidential term limits allowing him to run for another term.
Presidential term limits are an essential part of democracy and the erosion of the concept in many African countries is bringing nations to ruin. As aptly expressed by Barack Obama, “Africa’s democratic progress is at risk when leaders refuse to step aside when their terms end… when a leader tries to change the rules in the middle of the game, just to stay in office, it risks instability and strife.”