A blast from the past

This week events in Honduras have brought back horrible memories - the 'c' word - coup. It's like a geopolitical equivalent of Babycham, Slimcea, Bell-bottomed trousers ans sideburns - a reminder of the 1970s.

Africa has not been without its coups recently, such as in Mauritania and Guinea last year. The events in Madagascar were nothing short of a coup d'etat where an elected president was replaced not at the ballot box but through street protests, which no matter how well-organised would never have amounted to anything had the army not changed sides.

What's more I see that the president of Niger, Mamadou Tandja, is acting in something of a high-handed manner. He's dissolved his Parliament and the country's highest court. He's doing this because he wants to stay on in power. The Nigerien constitution gave him two terms, the last of which is coming to an end. The idea behind term limits on politicians is based on mistrust and the hope that there is a limit to the harm one person can do in a limited period. President Tandja points to his success as president of Niger and support for his remaining as president. Certainly there do not appear to be other would-be candidates to fill his shoes, and since taking power he certainly hasn't beggared his country; he didn't have to, as it was already at the bottom of mos international indices.