Why are countries around the world, including Africa, Europe, and Asia, rushing to change constitutions? Why are countries moving towards dictatorship again?
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Why are countries moving towards dictatorship again? |
Today, Chadian President Idris Deby was killed in a clash with rebels. Seeing this news, I thought I would give a long post today. We have seen that in the Ancient period the states were divided into smaller states. Where there was the old monarchy. There were also some city-states like Rome, Sparta. Towards the end of the Middle Ages, the states became various colonies. Some countries were again under different empires like Ottoman Empire, Mughal Empire. After the Second World War, many independent countries were born out of the colonies and empires. Military or dictatorship was established in these newly independent countries. In the post-modernist era (post-1990s), these countries broke away from the grip of the military or dictators and established democracies. These are the countries that established democracy and are now leaning towards dictatorship before reaching full democracy. Today's post is a little long. Here is how the countries around the world, including Africa, Europe, and Asia, are rushing to change the constitution. How different countries are leaving democracy and moving towards dictatorship again.
One of the longest-serving dictators on the African continent is President Idris Deby of Chad. Idris Deby, who has been in power for nearly three decades, was killed today in a clash with rebels on the Libyan border in the north of the country.
Today, President Idriss Deby, who died fighting rebels, came to power in an armed coup in 1990. Six years after coming to power, he introduced multi-party democracy in the country and arranged periodic elections. That means there will be an election but he will win. According to Chad's constitutional rules, no one can be president more than twice. But in order to stay in power for a long time, he changed the constitution in 2005 and changed that rule, meaning he can be president as many times as he wants. Just a few days ago (April 11, 2021) the national election was held in Chad. The dictator Idris Devi, who won the election with 707 votes, died today before becoming the president for the sixth time. He was in power for a total of 31 years.
Most of the world's longest-running dictators are in Chad's neighbors. If you give a little example, you will understandঃ
01. Cameroon's President Paul Biya is in the first position. President of Cameroon since 1975. A total of 45 years.
02. Equatorial Guinea's President Theodore Obiang is in second place. He has been in power since 1989. A total of 41 years.
03. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khomeini is in third place. He has been Iran's supreme leader since 1981. A total of 39 years.
04. In fourth place is Denis Sasso Nugeso of the Republic of Congo. He was in power first from 1989 to 1992 and later from 1996 to the present. A total of 36 years.
05. Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen is in fifth place. He has been in power since 1984. A total of 36 years.
07. In sixth place is Ugandan President Yuri Museveni. He has been in power since 1986. A total of 35 years.
If you look at the map, you will see that Chad, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo are mentioned side by side. Border sharing with each other. Some of these dictators, who have been in power for a long time in the present world, came to power as a war of liberation, meaning they liberated these countries by fighting against the colonialists. Some came to power through elections. Then the dictator came to power and went to the forest. The constitution has changed to stay in power for a long time.
In the countries of the African continent, the constitution is being changed now ★
Example-01
Another country in Africa is Tanzania.
John Magufoli, the president of Tanzania, wanted to move towards dictatorship by amending the constitution. The Tanzanian constitution also prohibits a two-term presidency. So Magufoli wanted to amend the constitution so that he could run for a third term in the 2025 elections and stay in power for life. But a few days ago, on March 24, before the end of the second term, he passed away due to heart complications.
Example-02
Another African country is Uganda. That was 37 years ago when Uganda was under military rule. Yuri Museveni established democracy in the country by fighting against those militaries. Museveni, the founder of Ugandan democracy, is now the dictator of Uganda. He regained power in January this year by holding only one nominal election. His position is sixth among the longest-lasting dictators in the world.
Those who are interested in international politics know that changing the constitution to consolidate power is an important feature of 21st-century politics. Not only in Africa but also in Europe and Asia. You can understand by looking at the following examples:
Example-1
According to the Russian Constitution, a person cannot hold the office of the President more than twice in a row. But in July last year, the Russian president won a landslide victory by holding a referendum to amend the country's constitution. So now he will be able to contest the presidential election to be held in 2024. At the same time, the way for his participation in the election of 2030 has become easier. In that case, the way has been opened for him to stay in power till 2038.
Example-02
The National People's Congress (NPC) has approved a proposal by top Chinese leader Xi Jinping to withdraw his term in early 2016. In the nineties, there were two terms for the presidency in China. That means one person cannot have more than two terms. But now that the provision has been withdrawn, President Xi Jinping will be in power "for life."
His current term was due to end in 2023 after taking office as president in 2012, but he will now remain in power for life.
Example-03
Following the failed coup of Fatullah Gulen in Turkey, changes in some important articles of the constitution have further increased the power of the president. Now the president, Erdogan, has omnipotence He has the power to make and implement any kind of decision He can even be a member of a political party, which is illegal while he is president That means a political party will be part of the state or the state itself, which is a terrible thing, says former Turkish Foreign Minister Deniz Baikal.
Numerous examples of changing the constitution can be given in this way. Let's not know the details about Chad now;
The country is named after Lake Chad
It is the fifth-largest country in Africa by area. Unique in Shad land diversity, vast desert to the north, barren to the central, quite fertile to the south. The country is named Chad after Lake Chad. This lake is the source of the largest wetlands in the country. And the second largest wetland in Africa. Two hundred diverse peoples live in the country. The country, rich in gold and uranium, started exporting oil only a decade ago.
Christian-Muslim conflict
The country gained independence from France in 1960. The country has been in a deep crisis since independence due to instability and violence. The conflict is mainly due to tensions between the country's Arab Muslim and Christian ethnic groups. Taking advantage of that conflict, militant groups like IS and Boko Haram have set up bases here.
The world's shortest life expectancy is 6
The average life expectancy of most countries of the world is also increasing. The average life expectancy of many countries is now around 70 years. But Chad is the shortest living country in the world. The average life expectancy of the people of the country is only 49 years. Chad has a higher mortality rate than a birth rate. There are many other reasons behind short life expectancy including polluted environment, malnutrition, increase in chemical use. In addition, the amount of AIDS epidemics is increasing day by day here.
Chad's disaster today is due to neighboring Sudan
The country is devastated by various natural disasters. The issue is further complicated by neighboring Sudan. Thousands of refugees have crossed the border into Chad in search of safety in Sudan's recent war. Sudan has created a devastating refugee crisis for Chad. Before that, the country was not as bad as it is now. The country is rich in natural resources (especially gold and uranium). But the war in the neighboring country has turned the country into a refugee city. IS and Boko Haram militants based in Sudan have been carrying out attacks in Chad for several days.
Chad is called The Babel Tower of the World
Chad has more than 200 ethnic groups and more than 100 languages, although Arabic and French are the official languages. Because of these groups and languages, Chad is called the center of the world's turmoil.
How will the country function in the absence of the president?
The president's death has shattered the country's government and parliament. For the next year and a half (18 months) the country will be ruled by a council made up of the army. The council will be headed by the late President Debbie's 36-year-old son, General Mahamat Idris Debbie Itno. Re-election will be held in the country after 18 months.