Joe Biden will not seek reelection, lesson for African presidents
By Nfor Hanson Nchanji
The news of US president, Joe Biden, not seeking re-election in 2024 was long awaited after a failed presidential debate on June 27, 2024, that exposed his inability to keep a smooth conversation. Biden was beaten by Republican candidate, Donald Trump, shaking a beehive within the Democrats.
Calls for Biden to withdraw, including a confidential note from former President, Barack Obama intensified, but the president remained defiant, promising to beat Trump in the next presidential debate in September 2024.
But Biden would not wait until then to bid farewell to a second mandate, making it the first time a sitting president does not seek for re-election in decades.
Biden becomes the 10th not to seek re-election but others who did not, either died or were killed like John F. Kennedy who was assassinated in 1963 and thus did not seek re-election. Johnson ran and won in 1964 and was eligible for another term, but he opted to sit out the 1968 race. So, Biden becomes the first since 1968 and the 10th in the history of America.
President Joe Biden’s health situation and age was advanced as main reasons for his reisgnation from the bid, Republicans under Donald Trump used this as a campaign strategy.
But despite Biden’s insistence that he is fit, he made remarkbale blunder during the NATO meeting in July when he called Putin as Ukrainian President and also addressed his Vice President as Donald Trump.
What lesson(s) for sit-tight African presidents?
We are always quick to draw lessons from other countries or continents but our leaders would never dare! Bidens withdrawal from the campaign shows that he can listen to his people, is not egoistic, confirms that age is catching up with him and he is not as strong as he was before. This is great news for democracy!
But if an African president, espeically in Francophone Africa, were to advise Biden, they’ll tell him to stay in power, because power is sweet!
- Paul Biya of Cameroon
On November 4, 1982, former President, Ahmadou Ahidjo resigned from office and handed over to Paul Biya, who was his Prime Minister and consttutional successor. On November 6, Paul Biya was sworned in while Ahidjo kept the party’s leadership position. Today, president Paul Biya is 91 years and has been in power for 42 years. Aside the longitvity in power, Paul Biya is old and cannot move as he used to do. But unlike Biden, Biya has held power close to his heart and shows no sign of leaving the rope loose to another person to grab. Though not official, Mr. Biya will likely be a candidate to retain his position in the 2025 Presidential elections.
2. Teodoro Obiang Nguema
Equatorial Guinea’s president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema is Africa’s longest serving president. He came to power in 1979, three years before Cameroon’s Paul Biya acsended the top office. Mr. Obiang has not only managed his country as his personal possession, he has also placed his family in top positions, including his high-life son, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, as Vice president. At 80, Mr Nguema, shows no signs of taking a break.
3. Yoweri Museveni
His regime is considered autocratic with countless violations of human rights. The former military general who came to power in 1986, has been president for 38 years, counting. Just like his Equato-Guinean counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, has placed his son as the country’s defense minister, putting hopes on his shoulders of potentially becoming the next president of Uganda.
Critics hold that wIth Biya 91, Nguema and Yoweri at 80, all three men deserve some rest, allow the younger generation to ascend into power. This is not an exhaustive list of old African presidents who are weak and deserve rest, but these three certainly make strong trio, anyone would want to see take a rest.
