When The Crown Refused To Fall: A Biblical Larment On Presidents Who Killed Term Limits

 

By Emmanuel Mihiingo Kaija, Independent Researcher

Emkaijawrites@gmail.com

I. Introduction: The Sacred Covenant of Leadership and the Tragedy of Its Betrayal

Beneath the vast and endless skies of Africa, where the baobab tree stands like a silent sentinel over the dust and dreams of generations, a solemn covenant was once made—a covenant between ruler and people, between the temporal and the divine. This covenant was not merely ink upon parchment or echoes within halls of power; it was a sacred trust woven into the very soul of leadership, a delicate thread binding the throne to justice, humility, and the flourishing of the land. Yet, across many nations, this covenant has been torn apart, rent like a garment into shreds by those who coveted the crown not as a burden to bear but as a prize to hoard. The constitutional term limits, those fragile fences of accountability meant to protect the people from the peril of endless rule, have been broken—shattered beneath the iron boots of ambition, greed, and fear. They have become a relic of forgotten promises, whispers lost in the winds of political expediency.

The biblical prophets knew well the dangers of kings who refused to relinquish power—Saul, whose heart grew hard with pride; Solomon, whose wisdom faltered beneath the weight of excess; and the many false shepherds who led their flocks astray. These ancient warnings echo still through the chambers of modern governance, where rulers stretch their hands to stay beyond the appointed time, turning leadership into tyranny. To remove term limits is to defy the rhythms of justice ordained not only by human law but by the divine order that calls leaders to serve, not to reign as gods upon the earth. The Scriptures cry out, “You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice… because you have trusted in your own way” (Hosea 10:13), a lament that now resounds across the continent as presidents clutch thrones that should have passed to new hands, new visions, and renewed hope.

This research emerges as a prophetic lamentation—a sacred witness to the breaking of covenants and the silencing of voices who dare to call for justice. It is a journey into the hearts of nations where term limits have been killed, where democracy’s fragile bloom has been trampled by the relentless march of power unchallenged. It seeks not merely to chronicle political facts, but to unveil the deeper spiritual wounds inflicted by such rule—wounds that bleed into society’s soul, fracturing trust and sowing despair. With a methodology that intertwines biblical exegesis, historical analysis, human rights documentation, and the wisdom of African proverbs, this work strives to give voice to the silent cries beneath the surface of headlines and statistics.

Ultimately, this study is a call to remembrance and resistance. To remember these broken covenants is to honor those who suffered in their breach; to resist is to breathe life back into the prophetic spirit, that ancient fire that refuses to be extinguished by oppression or fear. In this sacred lament, we find the seeds of hope—hope that leadership might once again be understood as a stewardship, a fleeting trust to be wielded with humility, justice, and love for the people and the land. May this journey stir the hearts of readers, awaken the conscience of nations, and beckon all who hold power to the paths of righteousness and renewal.

II. Biblical Foundations: Leadership, Covenant, and Accountability

Leadership, in the biblical imagination, is not a throne to be coveted but a sacred trust to be borne—a covenant between the anointed and the people, bound by justice, humility, and service. From the trembling hand of Moses, called to lead a wandering people through deserts of oppression, to the wise and flawed kings of Israel—David, Solomon, and beyond—the Scriptures reveal a pattern: those who govern are held accountable not only to the laws of men but to the inscrutable laws of God. The covenant of leadership is a fragile and holy thread, woven into the fabric of divine promise and human responsibility. It is a charge to uphold the oppressed, to administer justice with fairness, and to lead not by the tyranny of power but by the servant’s heart.

Yet, as the biblical narrative unfolds, it reveals the perilous path of kings who forget their covenantal role. Saul, chosen by the prophet’s hand but undone by pride and disobedience, illustrates the tragedy of a leader who clings too tightly to power, refusing the divine rhythm of obedience and humility. Solomon, crowned with wisdom yet led astray by the seductions of excess and foreign alliances, teaches that even the greatest gifts can become chains when wielded without justice. The prophets—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel—rise like thunderclaps against the idols of unchecked rule, their voices condemning those who “devour the vineyard” and “feed themselves while the flock is scattered” (Ezekiel 34:2-3).

This sacred architecture of leadership finds resonance in the concept of term limits—modern echoes of the biblical calls for boundaries and seasons. Term limits act as temporal reminders that no crown is eternal; that rulers are stewards, not owners, of the trust invested in them. To serve indefinitely, to kill these limits, is to erect an idol of power that blinds the soul and suffocates the spirit of justice. It is to break the covenant not only with the people but with God, who commands leaders to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly” (Micah 6:8).

Furthermore, the prophetic scriptures declare a divine intolerance for injustice cloaked in the garb of power. Amos cries out, “Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24)—a flowing, relentless demand that stands in stark opposition to the stagnant pools of corruption and tyranny. Jeremiah’s lament over false shepherds who lead the flock astray (Jeremiah 50:6) reverberates through the ages, capturing the tragic betrayal of leaders who forsake their sacred duties.

This biblical vision harmonizes with African indigenous wisdom, where leadership is cyclical, communal, and bound by sacred customs that emphasize renewal and balance. African proverbs—such as “A king’s power lasts only as long as the respect of his people” or “Even the mighty baobab tree must bow to the wind”—remind us that leadership must be rooted in humility and accountability. The resonance between biblical covenant and African traditions enriches this study, illuminating the universal truth that leadership, when severed from justice and the common good, becomes a tree with shallow roots destined to fall.

Thus, the biblical foundations of leadership and accountability are not relics of a distant past but living waters that flow into the present crises of governance. They invite us to see term limits not as mere legal technicalities but as sacred boundaries protecting the fragile covenant between rulers and the ruled. When these boundaries are destroyed, the whole fabric of society frays, and the voices of prophets—ancient and contemporary—rise once again in lament and urgent call to repentance.

III. Historical Context: The Emergence and Role of Term Limits in Modern Governance

The birth of term limits in constitutional democracies stands as a testament to humanity’s enduring struggle to reconcile power and justice—an attempt to enshrine humility into the architecture of governance. Born from the ashes of monarchies and autocracies that had long held sway over kingdoms and colonies, term limits emerged as a safeguard, a covenantal boundary meant to remind rulers that their authority is not eternal but entrusted, and that the cycle of leadership must renew like the seasons upon the earth.

In the tumultuous pages of history, especially following the Enlightenment and the rise of republicanism, term limits became pillars upon which fledgling democracies sought to build their promises of liberty, fairness, and accountability. The United States Constitution’s carefully crafted checks and balances, including presidential term limits as enshrined in the 22nd Amendment, symbolize this sacred restraint—a bulwark erected so no individual might grasp power indefinitely, choking the life from democratic hope.

Across the Atlantic and beyond, this principle echoed loudly as nations in Africa and other formerly colonized lands wrestled with the inheritance of imposed statehood, fragile institutions, and the urgent thirst for self-rule. As independence dawned in the mid-20th century, many African states embraced constitutions with term limits, inspired by global norms and the urgency to break from the chains of colonial despotism. These limits were designed to foster renewal, to prevent the emergence of new tyrants cloaked in the guise of liberation.

Yet, the continent’s postcolonial story is marred by the insidious unraveling of these safeguards. From the 1990s onward, a wave of presidents across Africa began to tamper with term limits—amendments slipped quietly through parliaments, constitutional courts co-opted, and popular dissent crushed beneath military boots and security forces. This trend signals a tragic betrayal not only of political covenants but of the very soul of governance.

The abolition of term limits in various countries marks a shift from hopeful revolution to entrenched autocracy, where power becomes a prize to be hoarded, a throne to be defended at all costs. These leaders cloak their ambition in rhetoric of stability and development, yet their reigns often coincide with increased corruption, repression, and the erosion of civil liberties. The voices of opposition are silenced, elections become charades, and the people’s trust—once radiant as the morning sun—fades into shadows of fear.

The rising tide of term limit removals reflects broader geopolitical and social currents: the lingering scars of colonial borders, the weakness of democratic institutions, economic dependencies, and the complex dance of international actors who sometimes prioritize resource access over democratic integrity. Yet, beneath these layers, the core remains a breach of the covenant—a rupture in the sacred trust that must hold leader and led in accountable communion.

African proverbs poignantly capture this betrayal: “When the water is gone, the fish cannot survive,” or “A river does not flow backwards without breaking its banks.” Such wisdom warns that leadership without limits is a river run wild, eroding the foundations upon which societies stand. The consequences are profound: social fragmentation, cycles of violence, and a pervasive sense of abandonment among citizens whose hopes have been repeatedly dashed.

Term limits, then, are not mere legal mechanisms but spiritual markers—echoes of biblical injunctions against the hunger for unending power, reminders that true leadership is stewardship, bounded by time and accountable to the divine and the people. Their erosion invites prophetic lament and urgent calls for restoration, for without these sacred boundaries, the covenant fractures, and the dreams of justice and peace slip into the dust.

IV. Case Studies of Presidents Who Killed Term Limits: A Biblical Lament in Six Voices

1. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni — Uganda

The dawn of 1986 brought a liberator cloaked in the promises of justice and peace. Yoweri Museveni, risen from the ashes of guerrilla warfare, was hailed as the harbinger of a new dawn, a shepherd to a land weary of Amin’s terror and Obote’s iron fist. Yet the dawn grew dim as years unfolded into decades—what was a flame of revolution became a slow burn of captivity. The 2005 removal of presidential term limits was the first crack in Uganda’s covenantal heart, a betrayal written not in thunder but in whispers and parliamentary nods under pressure and fear.

The assault deepened in 2017 when the age limit was swept away in a session marked by military intimidation and silenced dissent. The nation’s youth—once the fiery pulse of hope—watched their dreams crushed beneath boots and bullets. Bobi Wine, the voice of the voiceless, was imprisoned and beaten; his supporters disappeared into the shadows. Reports from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International tell of systematic repression: journalists jailed, protests broken, opposition leaders vanished or silenced.

Psalm 13’s aching cry, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?” echoes across the hills of Uganda, where over 76% of citizens have known no leader other than Museveni, his rule entrenched like ancient roots choking the life of new growth. The prophetic word stands stark: “You have plowed wickedness; you have reaped injustice” (Hosea 10:13). The African proverb warns, “When a king eats all the food, the people starve.” Museveni’s dynasty, guarded by military might and dynastic ambition, shadows Uganda’s future, with his son Muhoozi stepping forward as heir apparent, wielding power like a priest wields sacred rites.

2. Paul Biya — Cameroon

For more than forty years, Paul Biya has ruled Cameroon with a grip slow and suffocating—a python tightening until breath is stolen from the land. In 2008, when constitutional term limits were abolished, the streets cried out, only to be met with bullets. Amnesty International’s reports bear witness to the killing of over one hundred civilians—a brutal sacrament of silence. The Anglophone crisis since 2017 has set the nation aflame, displacing nearly a million souls and killing thousands in a forgotten war.

Biya’s reign is a tale of absence as much as presence: reports reveal a leader more at home in Switzerland’s luxury hotels than in the streets of Yaoundé, ruling through proxies and fear. The International Crisis Group paints a portrait of a nation divided, the land torn between two realities, two flags, two futures. Jeremiah 50:6 mourns the lost: “The shepherds have led my people astray; they have turned them loose in the mountains.”

The ancient forest whispers the African proverb: “The forest hides many secrets, but the trees know.” Cameroon’s people suffer beneath a shadowed crown, their voices swallowed by silence and fear.

3. Denis Sassou Nguesso — Republic of Congo

Denis Sassou Nguesso, the leviathan of Brazzaville, has ruled through decades marked by civil war and the stench of betrayal. Twice he has clutched the reins—first from 1979 to 1992, then again from 1997 following a brutal conflict that stained rivers red. The 2015 referendum erased constitutional limits with a manufactured 92% “approval,” while blackouts and police brutality silenced dissent.

Offshore investigations expose a web of corruption, siphoning oil wealth into opulent mansions abroad, while poverty grips the streets. The suspicious death of opposition leader Guy-Brice Parfait Kolélas in 2021 cast a long shadow over the electoral process, cementing Sassou’s grip and anointing his son Denis Christel, “Kiki le Petrolier,” as crown prince.

Isaiah 3:14 condemns: “You have devoured the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses.” Beneath the canopy of ancient forests and oil rigs, the cries of the people dissolve into shadow. The African proverb offers a warning: “Even the lion’s mane has thorns.”

4. Ismaïl Omar Guelleh — Djibouti

In the arid desert, Djibouti’s tiny land holds immense strategic weight. Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, in power since 1999, transformed the nation into a chessboard for global military bases, trading sovereignty for foreign interests. Term limits fell in 2010, paving the way for uninterrupted rule. In 2021, Guelleh claimed 97% of the vote amid skepticism from observers.

Beneath this polished exterior, youth face crippling unemployment, political opponents vanish into exile or prison, and press freedom is among the world’s worst. Human Rights Watch’s 2022 report details repression and surveillance, silencing voices with shadows.

Jeremiah’s lament rings true: “They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.” The African proverb whispers, “The eye that sees in the dark is wise,” yet in Djibouti, many see only shadows.

5. Idriss Déby and Mahamat Déby — Chad

From the desert sands, Idriss Déby emerged in 1990, a warrior promising order after Hissène Habré’s brutality. But his iron rule discarded term limits by 2005, and his reign was marked by repression documented by the UN and Amnesty International. Déby died in 2021 on the battlefield, but his legacy continued through his son Mahamat, who seized power via a military council, suspending democracy indefinitely.

Human Rights Watch reports over 50 peaceful protesters killed in 2022 alone. Chad, rich in gold and oil, remains shackled by poverty and grief. The biblical warning blazes: “Woe to the city of bloodshed, full of lies, full of plunder, never without victims” (Nahum 3:1). The African proverb reminds us, “The river does not forget its source,” yet the people’s river of hope has been poisoned.

6. Pierre Nkurunziza — Burundi

Born from civil war’s ashes, Pierre Nkurunziza defied constitutional limits in 2015, claiming divine sanction for a third term. His decree sparked protests, a failed coup, and brutal repression. The UN counts over 1,200 dead and 400,000 displaced during the ensuing chaos. Human Rights Watch details extrajudicial killings and silencing of journalists and opposition.

Though Nkurunziza died in 2020, repression endures under his successor Évariste Ndayishimiye. The 2018 referendum extended presidential terms to seven years, chaining Burundi’s future to authoritarian rule. Ezekiel 34:2 condemns, “Woe to the shepherds who only feed themselves! Should not shepherds feed the flock?” The African proverb sounds a somber drumbeat: “The drum that beats alone has no rhythm.” Burundi’s people wander lost, bereft of protection.

V. Theological and Ethical Analysis: The Sin of Power and the Path to Redemption

In the vast tapestry of Scripture, leadership is never a pedestal for self-exaltation, but a solemn covenant—a sacred stewardship entrusted by God, woven with threads of humility, justice, and accountability. The biblical narrative resounds with warnings against kings and rulers who exalt themselves, shackling the people beneath their ambition, turning the sacred trust into a throne of dust and despair.

The abolition of term limits in African nations—these fragile, constitutional fences guarding against tyranny—is a contemporary echo of ancient idolatry, a betrayal of the covenant. This is no mere political misstep; it is a profound spiritual breach. When rulers clutch power beyond the ordained season, they break the divine order that calls for limits, seasons, and cycles. The Lord God appointed seasons for leadership, as the sun rises and sets, as the rivers flow and rest.

The tragic example of Saul, the first king of Israel, reminds us of the peril in clinging to power against the divine will. Saul’s reign was marked by disobedience, jealousy, and paranoia, culminating in his rejection by God and the fracturing of the kingdom. Solomon, though granted wisdom, succumbed to pride and idolatry, leading Israel astray. The prophets—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos—thundered their condemnations against rulers who abused power, oppressing the poor, perverting justice, and turning the altar of leadership into an idol.

Luke 12:48 declares with piercing clarity: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Leadership is stewardship, not ownership. It demands service, sacrifice, and accountability to both God and the people. The refusal to relinquish power is a spiritual blindness, a hardening of the heart that elevates self above the sacred covenant.

The African traditional understanding of leadership resonates deeply here—chiefs and kings were custodians, caretakers of the land and people, bound by customs that demanded rotation, counsel, and renewal. The proverb, “A chief who forgets his people is a tree with no roots,” echoes the biblical demand for rootedness in justice and care.

Yet, amidst this grave indictment, the biblical narrative does not abandon hope. The prophetic tradition calls not only for lament but for restoration. The path to redemption is paved by repentance—a turning away from pride and greed—and the pursuit of justice that “rolls on like a river” (Amos 5:24). The church and civil society have a prophetic role: to hold rulers accountable, to proclaim truth to power, and to nurture the seeds of renewal.

Lament itself is a sacred act—mourning the brokenness while trusting in God’s promise of restoration. It is the birth cry of justice, the echo of hope in the wilderness. The psalmist’s plea, “Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved” (Psalm 80:3), becomes the anthem for nations shackled by endless rule.

In this light, the abolition of term limits is not only a political failure but a spiritual wound that calls for healing through prayer, advocacy, and the relentless pursuit of justice. It demands leaders who embody servant-hood, communities that refuse silence, and nations that remember the sacred covenant.

VI. Contemporary Implications and Calls to Action

The theft of term limits is not a distant or abstract tragedy; it is a present and visceral wound cutting deep into the flesh of African societies. When leaders bind themselves to thrones indefinitely, the very soul of governance is poisoned, unleashing ripples of despair and division that fracture the communal body.

The entrenchment of dictatorship sows the seeds of social fragmentation. Civil liberties wither beneath the heavy boot of repression; dissent becomes a whispered prayer; the vibrant pulse of democratic renewal is strangled. The people’s voices—once a chorus of hope—are reduced to muted echoes in the halls of power.

This erosion spills beyond politics, cascading into economic stagnation, rampant corruption, and the collapse of public trust. When power is hoarded, wealth follows suit, concentrated in the hands of a few while the many starve, wander, or flee. The ancient proverb warns: “When the lion’s share is taken by one, the rest go hungry.”

Yet, even within this dark night, the light of resistance flickers. Civil society organizations, courageous journalists, faith communities, and ordinary citizens stand as sentinels of justice, wielding truth as both shield and sword. Churches, rooted in prophetic tradition, bear a special mantle — to call rulers to account, to nurture peace built on justice, and to heal the wounds inflicted by broken covenants.

International actors also bear responsibility. The biblical imperative to “defend the cause of the poor and needy” (Psalm 82:3) summons global institutions and nations to stand in solidarity with those oppressed by despotic rule. Yet, solidarity must never become complicity through silence or unchecked diplomacy.

The protection of term limits transcends legalism—it is a spiritual and civic imperative. It safeguards the dignity of people made in God’s image, honors the cycles ordained in creation, and preserves the fragile beauty of freedom. The restoration of covenantal leadership demands holistic engagement—legal reforms, civic education, grassroots activism, and above all, prayerful vigilance.

Looking toward the horizon, the vision is clear and piercing: an Africa where leadership embodies servant-hood, where power is a sacred trust renewed by seasons and humility. Here, democracy is not merely a system but a living testament to God’s justice—a place where the lowly are lifted, the oppressed find refuge, and the land is healed.

As the psalmist declares: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance” (Psalm 33:12). The path is arduous, but the promise endures. The lament must become a song of hope, the cry of despair a summons for justice, and the darkness a canvas for the dawn.

VII. Conclusion: Lament and Hope — A Prophetic Invitation

The path has been shadowed by kings who refused to yield, whose grasp upon power became a noose tightening around the neck of justice and freedom. Their reigns, stained by broken covenants and silenced cries, have left scars etched deep into the land and the souls of their people. Yet, the story does not end in despair.

The biblical narrative is a river flowing between judgment and mercy, wrath and redemption, destruction and new creation. Like the exiled prophets who mourned the fallen city but also sang of its restoration, so too must we carry both lament and hope in our hearts. For in the brokenness lies the seed of renewal.

“They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit” (Isaiah 65:21)—this is the promise carved into the marrow of divine justice. It is a vision of leadership that serves rather than rules, of governance that lifts rather than crushes, and of a people who rise from bondage to breathe freely beneath open skies.

Our lament today is a holy witness—an unflinching gaze into the abyss of power corrupted, but also a torch lighting the path to justice. It calls upon every citizen, every church, every institution to awaken from complacency and speak with courage, to demand that the sacred covenant of leadership be honored once again.

In the silence after the lament, let us hear the whispered prayer of the Psalmist echo through the valleys: “Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved” (Psalm 80:3). May this restoration begin with truth-telling, with repentance, and with the steadfast commitment to justice that never grows weary.

Let the rulers who have stolen time from their people hear this: power is borrowed, not owned; it is a trust, not a treasure to hoard. The crown that refuses to fall is a crown destined to crumble, for no throne built on oppression endures beyond the turning of the ages.

May the people of Africa rise like the dawn, their voices a river of freedom and their hands instruments of healing. May the prophets long silenced be heard once more, their words a balm and a beacon. And may the land, scarred but unbroken, bloom anew in the light of justice fulfilled.

This is our prayer, our lament, our hope—and our unyielding call.

VIII. Bibliography and Sources

Scriptures Cited

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV).

Hosea 10:13 — “You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice… Because you have trusted in your own way…”

Psalm 13:1 — “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”

Jeremiah 50:6 — “The shepherds have led my people astray; they have turned them loose in the mountains…”

Isaiah 3:14 — “You have devoured the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses.”

Jeremiah 6:14 — “They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.”

Nahum 3:1 — “Woe to the city of bloodshed, full of lies, full of plunder, never without victims.”

Ezekiel 34:2 — “Woe to the shepherds who only feed themselves! Should not shepherds feed the flock?”

Isaiah 65:21 — “They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.”

Psalm 80:3 — “Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.”

Luke 12:48 — “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded…”

Amos 5:24 — “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”

Micah 6:8 — “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Jeremiah 22:3 — “Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed.”

Academic and Theological Works

Brueggemann, Walter. The Prophetic Imagination. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2001.

Kaiser Jr., Walter C. The Messiah in the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995.

Longenecker, Richard N. Leadership in the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1995.

Soggin, J. Alberto. Kingship and the Hebrew Bible. Sheffield Academic Press, 1997.

Mbiti, John S. African Religions and Philosophy. Heinemann, 1969.

Magesa, Laurenti. African Religion: The Moral Traditions of Abundant Life. Orbis Books, 1997.

Mathew, Samuel. Biblical Leadership Principles for African Governance. Nairobi: African Theological Press, 2018.

Nkomazana, Sheila. Prophetic Witness and Political Accountability in African Christianity. Journal of African Theology, Vol. 12, No. 2, 2023.

Human Rights Reports and Data

Human Rights Watch. Uganda: Events of 2022. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2023/country-chapters/uganda

Amnesty International. Cameroon: Crackdown on Protesters and Anglophone Crisis. Amnesty Reports, 2019.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/africa/cameroon/

Human Rights Watch. Republic of Congo: Repression and Election Fraud. HRW Reports, 2021. https://www.hrw.org/africa/congo-republic

Human Rights Watch. Djibouti: Silencing Dissent and Press Freedom. HRW Report, 2022. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2023/country-chapters/djibouti

United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Burundi Post-Election Violence and Human Rights. 2015. https://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/africa/burundi

Amnesty International. Chad: Human Rights Violations and Military Rule. Amnesty International Reports, 2022. https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/africa/central-africa/chad/

International Crisis Group. Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis. ICG Africa Report No. 264, 2019. https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/central-africa/cameroon/264-cameroon-anglophone-crisis

African Proverbs and Indigenous Wisdom

Maughan-Brown, Robin. African Proverbs, Sayings, and Stories. Penguin Classics, 1986.

Nsibambi, John. Wisdom in the Trees: African Proverbs on Leadership and Justice. Kampala: Makerere University Press, 2017.

Chinua Achebe, ed. Things Fall Apart: A Study in African Traditions and Proverbs. Heinemann, 1958.

Sefa Dei, George J. Traditional Leadership and African Wisdom. African Indigenous Knowledge Systems Journal, Vol. 7, 2021.

News and Investigative Journalism

Reuters Investigations. The Offshore Wealth of African Leaders. Reuters, 2018. https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/africa-offshore-wealth/

BBC News Africa. Uganda’s Political Crackdown Under Museveni. BBC Reports, 2022. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-uganda

The Daily Monitor (Uganda). The Rise of Muhoozi Kainerugaba and Uganda’s Military Dynasty. Monitor Investigations, 2023. https://www.monitor.co.ug

Al Jazeera. Djibouti’s Strategic Role and Political Repression. Al Jazeera Reports, 2022. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/djibouti-politics

Africanews. Cameroon Anglophone Crisis and Its Human Cost. Africanews Reports, 2021. https://www.africanews.com