Upholding the Constitution and preventing the illegal extension of leaders' terms of office often depends on a stable political system and the commitment of citizens.
Here are some possible measures to eradicate this scourge:
Promote civic education to make citizens aware of constitutional principles and the importance of respecting fundamental laws.
Strengthen institutions and ensure that the institutions responsible for upholding the constitution, such as the courts, are independent and operate impartially.
Open up the media, allowing a free and independent press to investigate abuses of power and inform citizens.
Encourage civil society to closely monitor the government's actions and report any deviations from the constitution.
Adopt laws that limit the number of terms a leader can serve, thus preventing undue lengthening of time in office.
Ensure that elections are free, fair and transparent, with adequate supervision to prevent electoral fraud.
Encourage dialogue between political players to resolve conflicts and prevent constitutional crises.
Above and beyond all this, the international community can play a role by exerting diplomatic pressure on leaders who attempt to extend their term of office illegally.
Nevertheless, each country has its own challenges and political context, so approaches may vary depending on the specific situation.
