The sweet trappings of political power in Africa

Although in recent years we have seen certain African dictators successfully be removed from power, there are still quite a number of African leaders that are able to circumvent the rules and continue to rule their respective nations.

Even though the modern day African president might no longer be the absolute autocrat of yesteryear, he still rules with awesome power and vast state resources at his disposal. Many African leaders have assumed an imperial character and sadly many regard themselves as largely above the law: accountable to no one and entitled to remain power or to pass the sceptre to their offspring.