Circumvention of Term Limits in Africa and Nigeria’s Foreign Policy since 2015

Abstract

The growing pattern of circumvention of term limits in Africa carries farreaching consequences for the continent’s governance, security, and development. Africa has seen a reversal in term limit norms since 2015. Since that time, leaders of 13 African countries have evaded  or overseen the further weakening of term limit restrictions put in place in their countries. Despite these setbacks, the trend is not uni- directional. Several African countries have strengthened or upheld term limits since 2015. There is a notable regional variation in the  upholding of term limits. The lack of effective term limits has resulted in Africa having 10 leaders who governed for over 20 years and 2 family dynasties that stayed in power for more than 50 years. This erosion of term limits is a setback for stable governance in Africa,  leading to the emergence of coups, rebels and extremist groups. This continental problem demands decisive multilateral solutions. These  issues have led to geopolitical security tensions resulting to Africa’s 32 million refugees and internally displaced populations. This  paper interrogates Nigeria’s diplomatic roles as Africa’s biggest democracy in addressing issues of circumvention of term limits that  weakens governance in Africa under the Buhari-led administration, and how Nigeria provided leadership to address coups in Africa. The  study adopts the historical research methodology. This method allows the use of primary and secondary sources, applying the twin of  interpretation and analysis. It is recommended that Nigeria must rise to the occasion as a dominant power through the effective  implementation of her Afrocentric foreign policy at regional and sub-regional levels.