Gerontocracy and Longevity in Power: What Consequences on Governance in Africa?

June 9, 2022, 15h-16h30 (GMT+1) via Zoom (Register Now)

1. Context

Since the democratic transitions of the 1990s, the continent has probably had the longest reigns of any president in power. With an average age of 70, some African presidents have been in power for more than 30 years. In this context, key positions of responsibility in government and other administrations are occupied by personalities whose average age is not fundamentally different from that of the incumbent president. This has consequences for the functioning and effectiveness of the governmental and administrative apparatus, as the longevity and wear and tear of power have an impact on the health of these public officials and limit their capacity for action in the face of the multisectoral challenges of governance. While the issue of the health of heads of state and senior government officials remains a veritable taboo in African constitutionalism, the problem of gerontocracy and longevity in power in Africa deserves to be addressed, given that the continent is characterised today by a predominantly young population that is aware of the major contemporary challenges of globalisation.

2. Objective of the dialogue

The objective of this public dialogue is to question the quality of governance in Africa by taking into account the parameters of gerontocracy and longevity in power of certain African heads of state. It is also a matter of questioning the capacity and aptitudes of the latter to respond to the development challenges of the African continent.

3. Participants

This public dialogue is organised by the Governance and Democracy Division of the Nkafu Policy Institute Think Tank. It is open to all without restriction.

4. Panelists

– Madina Tall, Political analyst and geostrategist

– Kabanda Umar, Ph.D in Governance and Regional integration

– Patrice Bigombe, Political Researcher

Moderator:

Dr Delmas Tsafack, Senior Analyst, Nkafu Policy Institute

5. Contact

For more information, please write to us at [email protected] or contact Tel: (+237) 22 31 15 84 / 653 78 25 81 / 698 64 55 24.