ABSTRACT
Sub-saharan Africa is home to many of the world's longest-ruling political leaders. Not less than seventeen heads of government have tried with varying degrees of success to secure longer terms in office through "constitutional coups". This is done by proposing constitutional amendments for approval by the Legislature or Judiciary or in national referenda, so that by early 2021, at least, three sub-saharan African rulers had held on to power for more than thirty years each. The aims of this study, though limited to presidential systems, is to analyze comparatively, the concept of constitutional coups in sub-saharan Africa; to examine reasons for its prevalence; to show its impact on development and security in the region with a view to proffering solutions and recommendations for wholesome reforms which, it is sincerely hoped will curb the trend.
This study found that constitutional coups threaten the continuance and survival of true democracy. Democracy is dependent on the existence of strong and independent institutions able to counterbalance the enormous powers vested on the executive arm of government. These powers enable the executive to wield enormous influence over other arms of government, coercing them to do its bidding. It also finds that the most meaningful approach to curb the spate of constitutional coups is an intellectual revolution geared towards establishing an ideological order that replaces the old regime of holding on to power through constitutional coups.
This study though limited to presidential systems, contributes to knowledge by showing that constitutional coups have severe negative impact on the democratic disposition, security and development of States in which they occur. This is juxtaposed with other States in sub-saharan Africa which have consolidated their democracy by upholding their constitutional provisions on presidential term limits.
