African Union Seems Likely to Pass Election Charter

African Union foreign ministers met today in Banjul, Gambia to discuss a potential charter that would make it easier for power to change hands through the ballot box. The charter comes in response to certain African leaders who routinely change the constitution so that they can remain in power long after the constitutional term limit ends. Ironically, one of the AU leaders, Omar Bongo, has been president of Gabon since before many of the participants in the summit were even born. Nevertheless, if passed, it "...would condemn any unconstitutional change of power, as well as any refusal to accept defeat and hand over power after losing an election." This is certainly a huge issue in Uganda, and hopefully the charter will be passed so that an honest election can take place in which the people truly choose their leader, rather than a leader choosing himself time and time again through constitutional amendments. It is good to see a desire for more political accountability coming from the leaders themselves.