Unconstitutional constitutional amendment or constitutional dismemberment? A reappraisal of the presidential term limit amendment in Cameroon

Main author: Enonchong, Laura-Stella
Format: Journal Article           
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id eprints-38987
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
description Presidential term limit provisions are often perceived as a feature of modern democratic systems. It has been argued that their existence is a key intervention mechanism to pre-empt some undemocratic outcomes associated with incumbency advantages. In 2008, the Constitution of Cameroon was amended to abolish the presidential term limit. More than ten years on, there are ostensible signs of a democratic decline. This article takes a retrospective look at the constitutional amendment to assess its constitutionality. It is argued that a conclusion on the constitutionality of the amendment may not be unequivocal. Nevertheless, there are substantial grounds for considering the constitutional change as a constitutional dismemberment. This is premised on the fact that, although the amendment followed the normal rules for constitutional amendments, the transformation amounted to a fundamental break with the constitutional commitment to democracy that underpinned the adoption of the 1996 Constitution.
format Journal Article
author Enonchong, Laura-Stella
author_facet Enonchong, Laura-Stella
authorStr Enonchong, Laura-Stella
author_letter Enonchong, Laura-Stella
title Unconstitutional constitutional amendment or constitutional dismemberment? A reappraisal of the presidential term limit amendment in Cameroon
publisher Cambridge University Press
publishDate 2022
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/38987/