You would be thrown behind bars in these African countries if you insult the president

Donald Trump, president of the United States of America, is probably the most vilified president in the world today. Everybody knows Trump is a controversial president and there is the approval ratings to prove it.

No wonder there have been several characters who have impersonated the man including South African comedian and host of the Daily Show, Trevor Noah. Trevor is known to be one of Trump’s regular critics.

Democracy in America allows opinions to be shared on just about anything. It is easy to express a dislike or an extreme side of an issue with the president through extreme forms including insults.

The same might not apply in other parts of the world, especially in Africa. In fact, not all leaders in Africa – even for those who claim to be practising democracy – give field days to people who decide to express their freedom of speech, particularly when it involves insulting or criticizing the president.

Let us consider a few African countries where laws criminalize criticism of presidents in the form of insults.