Yoweri Museveni: Desperately clinging to power
Africa’s longest-serving leader digs his heels in: with constitutional changes to extend his term and a social media tax to curb free speech, Yoweri Museveni is not going anywhere soon
Even with a firm hand on power after 34 years and the title of second-longest-serving leader on the continent, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni is desperate to cling to the presidency beyond 2021.Amendments to the constitution, coupled with the introduction of a social media tax, are part of his plans to crack down on public discontent and maintain power in rural areas, where much of his power base lies.Museveni has been president since 1986 and is nearing the age of 74.The latest iteration of the constitution includes a clause removing the age limit for presidential candidates and extending the term of members of parliament to seven years.The amendment was passed in December with 317 MPs voting in favour compared with 97 against and two abstaining."The removal of Uganda’s presidential age limit from the constitution reinforces our view that Museveni is likely to remain in power for the foreseeable future," reads a report by BMI Research, a subsidiary of Fitch Group.But civil society gr...
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