A growing number of states have modified constitutionally determined presidential term limits or adopted a flexible interpretation of relevant constitutional provisions to allow incumbent leaders additional terms in the highest office. This article investigates African Union (AU) responses to attempts to overturn or weaken term limits on executive power, one of the most tenacious constitutional trends in Africa. Inspired by the AU's well-established discourse on “unconstitutional changes of government” under the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, the article frames the manipulation of presidential term limits as “undemocratic changes of the constitution”. From this perspective it argues for a more active role for the AU in monitoring and enforcing constitutionalism and respect for democratic standards by member states when they amend their constitution. It concludes with a tentative set of principles to guide processes of constitutional change in Africa.

中文翻译：

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总统任期限制和非洲联盟

越来越多的州修改了宪法规定的总统任期限制，或者对相关宪法条款采取了灵活的解释，允许现任领导人在最高职位上增加任期。本文调查了非洲联盟 (AU) 对试图推翻或削弱行政权力任期限制的反应，这是非洲最顽固的宪法趋势之一。受到非盟在《非洲民主、选举和治理宪章》下关于“政府的违宪变更”的成熟论述的启发，该文章将总统任期限制的操纵定义为“宪法的非民主变更”。从这个角度来看，它主张非盟在成员国修改宪法时在监督和执行宪政和尊重民主标准方面发挥更积极的作用。它以一套暂定的原则结束，以指导非洲的宪法变革进程。