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Paper short abstract:

This paper contends that there is a relationship between presidential-term limits and some security situations in Africa.

Paper long abstract:

Of the 54 Member States of the AU in 2013, the constitutions of 36 States contain the provision of presidential term limits, ranging from four (e.g. Nigeria and Egypt) to seven (e.g. Cameroun, Rwanda and Congo Republic) years, with the majority having a two five-year tenure. Only 10 countries have never had term limit provisions in their constitutions, while eight ohter countries had this provision in their constitutions but their leaders later abolished it despite popular resistance in most cases. The term-limit provision is primarily a governance issue. However, because it removes what can be called as the shadow of the future in the eyes of many opposition figures vying for the highest political office, and because competition over this office and other politicla positions is an important triggering factor for conflicts in Africa, this paper contends that there is a relationship between this governance-related norm and some security situations in Africa. It thus aims to highlight this relation, engage with the arguments for and against the provision, and formulate suggestions as to how, once found to be generally a plausible norm, a continent-wide binding norm could be reached and how this could contribute to the amelioration of peace and security situation in some regards on the continent. But prior to engaging in these debates, the paper will put the subject matter in the framework of the African Peace and Security Architecture and the African Governance Architecture.