African Presidential Republics African Governance Series

This book provides a systematic assessment of the behaviour of some relatively successful presidents in African presidential republics, examining the part played by presidents in the development of their countries.

Using two groups of case studies, African Presidential Republics examines the variations between presidential republics within Africa since decolonisation. Jean Blondel divides the ten countries studied into those in which presidents had always been elected regularly, namely Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal and Tanzania, and those in which there was irregularity in the appointment of presidents, namely Benin, Uganda, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria. The case studies analyse the manner in which presidential republics have manifested themselves in Africa, exploring the argument that the presidential republic is one of the key institutional arrangements likely to lead societies towards development.

African Presidential Republics will be of interest to students and scholars of African politics, comparative politics and political leadership.

1. Introduction Part 1: Studying Particularly Positive African Presidencies 2. The very special case of Botswana and the part played by its second president: Quett Masire 3. The part played in Namibia by its second president: Hifikepunye Pohamba 4. The ostensibly highly original part played in Senegal by its third president: Abdoulaye Wade 5. The part played by Tanzania’s fourth president: Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete 6. The part played by Mozambique’s second president: Armando Emilio Guebuza Part 2: Studying African Presidents Who Became Democratic 7. The part played by Benin’s long-term president: Mathieu Kerekou 8. The key part played by Uganda’s long-term president: Yoweri Kaguta Museveni 9. The part played by Ghana’s long-term president: Jerry Rawlings 10. The part played by Africa's first woman president in Liberia: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf 11. The key part played by Olusegun Obasanjo both under military rule (1976-9) and as constitutional president (1999-2007) 12. Conclusion