In what has become a familiar refrain for African countries, Rwandan President Paul Kagame extended his country’s term limits thus granting himself the chance to extend his already exhaustive stay in power. Joining Kagame in the exclusive club of would be despots is the youthful and “born-again” leader of a country as small and historically perilous as his. That leader, Pierre Nkurunziza, won a disputed election last July that virtually guarantees him the right to govern Burundi until fate decides to surrender him into the hands of Hades. Word from Messrs.’ Kagame and Nkurunziza is that their rule represents the will of the people of their respective republics, and a casual glance at the winning margins of both men suggests that their claims are true; Kagame claimed 93% of the vote in the last election while Nkurunziza’s 70% should make him envious of his neighbor.

Kagame and Nkurunziza’s overtures burden…