Aging Autocrats, Familiar Tactics: A Pattern of Power Play in Africa The recent actions of aging leaders in Africa to solidify their grip on power may seem novel, but a closer look reveals a pattern that's all too familiar.
Paul Biya in Cameroon, Yoweri Museveni in Uganda, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in Equatorial Guinea, and Emmerson Mnangagwa in Zimbabwe are employing tactics reminiscent of their predecessors to cling to power.
These leaders have built networks of loyal allies over the years, allowing them to maintain control even as they grow older.