Presidential term limits

According the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies African leaders’ adherence to constitutional term limits is a key component of institutionalising predictable norms of democratic succession. Progress toward establishing this norm has been mixed. While a number of African countries have succeeded in upholding term limits over the past two decades, leaders in more than 20 countries effectively do not face restrictions on their time in power. Meanwhile internationally, Chinese president Xi Jingpin has no limit to his presidency and German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been at the helm for over 12 years. To discuss this further we are joined on the line by: • Dr Samuel Oloruntoba, senior lecturer international political economy at the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute • Dr Ina Gouws, senior lecturer for governance and political transformation at the University of Free State• Mandla Tyala is the head of programmes at Good Governance Africa