Geriatric countdown in Africa: Lifetime Presidents in the midst of crisis

The ongoing crises in Uganda and Cameroon exemplify the wider global debates on democracy, longevity in power and crises in leadership, that are particularly pronounced in Africa. Since the fall of Libya’s long-serving leader, Muammar Gaddafi, and Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, the resultant instability raised genuine concerns on what happens when a long-serving ruler vacates power. How likely is it that the absence of Presidents Museveni and Biya from office will bring about positive transformation to Uganda and Cameroon? What happens when our assumptions about democratic transitions prove untrue? To what extent are these societies’ voices being heard?

Panel 1: Uganda: Will Bobi Wine End the Museveni Hegemony?

Bobi Wine's slogan of “people power” and his refusal to be silenced by President Yoweri Museveni has caught the eye of the international media and observers. To what extent do Bobi Wine and other opposition activists truly reflect the will of Ugandans? What do they mean for the future?

Panel 2: Cameroon: Will the Anglophone Crisis Bring an End to Paul Biya’s Exile Rule?

As different groups continue to fight against or reject the legitimacy of President Biya’s government, the breakdown of social order has allowed for violence to spread. What will Paul Biya’s response to this new security challenge against his rule be?

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