How dictators like Cameroon’s Paul Biya maintain control and remain in power

Photo; Office of the President, Cameroon

Change laws to remain in power

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Like many other African dictators, Biya changed the Constitution to allow for a third term in 2008.  At the point, he had been in power for 25 years and was keen on maintaining his authority over the country.  His party, Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) was able to pass the change as they had a majority of 153 out of 180 seats in parliament.

He is among presidents such as Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, The Republic of Congo’s Denis Sassou Nguesso, Chad’s Idriss Deby, Burundi’s Pierre Nkurunziza and Guinea’s Lansana Conte who changed the constitution to increase their terms or scrap term limits altogether.