A Quintessential ‘Constitutional’ Albatross ‘Till-Death-do Us-Part’ RL Vol XIII No 417 MMXIX

A Quintessential

‘Constitutional’ Albatross

‘Till-Death-do Us-Part’

Nevertheless, the Arab Spring is alive & kicking

Presidential Curses – Tales of Three Neighbours

Public Lecture – Respublica Litereria - RL Vol XIII No 417 MMXIX

Costantinos Berhutesfa Costantinos, PhD

Professor of Public Policy & Sustainable Institutional Reforms

https://addisababa.academia.edu/CostyCostantinos

Abstract

Thousands of people protested in the Algerian capital and other cities demanding that President Bouteflika step down, and the army chief warned that he would not allow a breakdown in security. The ongoing unrest poses the biggest challenge yet to the ailing Bouteflika and a ruling elite still dominated by veterans of the independence war against France. This is the largest protests since the 2011 Arab Spring, calling on Bouteflika, 82, not to stand in an election scheduled for April 18.

On the other hand, Egypt's draft constitution makes president-for-life ambitions official. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who came to power in a 2014 coup, is overseeing sweeping legislative measures, which would allow him to stay in power until at least 2034. The planned constitutional amendment, which is currently fast-tracked through parliament and expected to be submitted to a referendum, will explicitly allow the president to appoint judges and remove the power to review new laws from the judiciary. It declares the military the "guardian and protector" of the state and its institutions and extend the jurisdiction of military courts over civilians.

The continuation of the protests against long time authoritarian leader Omar al-Bashir in Sudan have understandably been receiving increasing media attention due to the prospect of real political change in the country. Protests, demonstrations, and strikes have now lasted more than a month and have certainly rattled the ruling regime in Sudan as well as several other regional powers fearful of popular protests spreading throughout the region and challenging their own rule. The unrest in Sudan has its roots in both economic hardships and foreign currency shortages as well as deeper political grievances stemming from the authoritarian and often brutal rule of al-Bashir

The capital was gripped by a mass "democratic celebration.” Nassim Bala, an Algerian activist

With Bouteflika in Algeria looking for a new term, a sick person not seen in public often, continuing al Bashir’s three-decade rule and such changes in Egypt, these are designed to enshrine absolute powers of the president and the dominating role of the military in the constitution. Given the conduct of recent elections in DRC, the outcome of the referendum is a foregone conclusion, with any disapproval will be subject to state violence with no independent media to foster a free dialogue. The faint silver lining of the whole affair is that this enshrines a regime that is already using political violence against thousands of its citizens and will only become more radical in ensuring its continued dominance. With little appetite internationally to pressure such regimes on their human rights and democracy records and massive suppression internally, it will take decades to create the necessary conditions for a new attempt at participatory government in Africa.

Keywords: al-Bashir, Bouteflika, el-Sisi, Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, protests, democracy, livelihood security

see paper here or https://www.academia.edu/38519711/A_Quintessential_Constitutional_Albatross_Till-Death-do_Us-Part_RL_Vol_XIII_No_417_MMXIX