Africa and the Succession trap

Even in states like Angola where incumbents remained in power, the question of leadership succession was rarely far from the agenda.

In 2013 we can expect the topic also to be hot in Madagascar, Kenya and Zimbabwe, all scheduled to hold Presidential elections later this year. Succession is an inevitability of political life, and there are several ways to accomplish it, from dynastic inheritance to assassination to a competition for votes. Some states do it better than others, however, and it's fair to say that Africa has had more than its share of disorderly successions.