Yet another African despot has banned term limits and set his goal on immortality; however, this time round our sub-Saharan banana republics aren't to blame. Tunisia, that jewel in the desert, the final resting place of Rommel's Afrika Korps and land of equal opportunity has sprouted yet another unsurprising declaration on the disinterested world by allowing its ageing and much loved ruler, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to to stand for another term in presidential elections on 25 October. Watchers of Tunisia politics (basically three guys at a college in Harvard) will remember that Ali won the previous elections with 95% of the vote. A remarkable figure even for a demi-god. Yet the win and the muted response from the Tunisians themselves is interesting. Do they in fact like Ali more than democracy? Has the West got it wrong? Perhaps democracy isn't for everyone...Recent events in Mauritania, Niger and Guinea uphold the strong belief that locals don't mind a strong man, in fact they encourage it. Or perhaps the fact that your family will be prosecuted and tortured is motivation enough for someone to support a strong man....all unanswered questions...Mecasr watches with interest.
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