Presidency of Batsweda

Presidency of Batsweda رئاسة البهودة
Incumbent Hasan Ohemeng Interim John Odhiambo Interim since 22 May 2022
Office of the Presidency
Style	Their Excellency (formal) President (informal)
Residence	Presidential Palace, Jakasse
Seat	Parliament House, Jakasse
Appointer	Direct popular vote
Term length	Six years, renewable once
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Batsweda
Inaugural holder	Ridwan al-Hassan Yawo Mensah
Formation	November 11, 1960 (1960-11-11)
Salary	₲11,500,000
Website	www.presidency.bd

The Presidency of Batsweda (Sahrabic: رئاسة البهودة, Riʾāsat āl-Bahūda) is the directorial head of state of Batsweda. Headed by two presidents, one Salamic and one Christian, the position is primarily ceremonial in nature, with the Presidency signing legislation, appointing governments, and representing Batsweda internationally. Since 2022, the current presidents are Hasan Ohemeng and John Odhiambo, acting in an interim role since the outbreak of the Third Batswedan Civil War.

Role

The Presidential Palace, the joint residence of the Presidency.

As per the 2002 constitution, the primary role of the Presidency is to provide assent to legislation passed by the Parliament, represent Batsweda as its heads of states, and confirm members of the government, including appointing the prime minister. The Presidency has the power, if approved by both presidents, to veto legislation. This veto can be overturn by a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly.

The Presidency is elected via a direct election by voters every six years, using single transferable vote to select the winning joint candidates. Individual members of the Presidency are limited to two terms (either consecutive or non-consecutive), and can be removed by office by resignation or a successful act of impeachment by the National Assembly. In such a case, the remaining president serves alone until a by-election to fill the vacant position is filled. If both positions are vacant, the Speaker of the National Asssembly temporarily fulfills the role of acting president.

History

Ridwan al-Hassan (1961-1969) was, by constitutional numbering, the first president of Batsweda.

Maajid al-Salek (1969-1992) was the longest-serving president for 22 years and 296 days.

The Presidency as a directorial system consisting of two individuals was first defined in Batsweda's first constitution in 1960, with the Presidency being divided between a Salamic member and Christian member, in order to reflect the country's religious diversity and socio-political cleavages. Ridwan al-Hassan and Yawo Mensah were the first elected members of the Presidency until the end of the First Batswedan Civil War in 1969, where General Maajid al-Salek would form a new singular executive position under a authoritarian presidential republic. After the deposing of al-Salek by the Batswedan Armed Forces in 1992, the position of President would be held on a interim basis until 2002.

In 2002, with the enactment of the Jakasse Peace Accords, the two-member Presidency was reinstated as a primarily ceremonial role in a parliamentary republic. In 2022, after a military coup d'état and the start of the Third Batswedan Civil War, both positions have returned to an interim basis under the Council of Transitional Governance.

List of presidents

Political parties

  Salamic Socialist Union (SSU)

  Movement for Christian Social Democracy (MCSD)

  National Congress Party (NCP)

  Alliance of Regions and Communities (ARC)

  Coalition for the Transformation of Batsweda (COTOB)

  United Democratic Alliance (UDA)

  Union of Democracy and Progress (UDP)

  Congress for Liberal Democracy (CLD)

Other factions

  Military

  Independent

Status

  Acting prime minister

People's Republic of Batsweda (1960–1969)

Salamic member						Christian member						Election
Portrait		Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Portrait		Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office
			Took office	Left office	Time in office				Took office	Left office	Time in office
Posts vacant (11 November 1960 – 19 March 1961)
		Ridwan al-Hassan (1896–1978)	19 March 1961	12 February 1969 (deposed)	7 years, 330 days			Yawo Mensah (1901–1990)	19 March 1961	12 February 1969 (deposed)	7 years, 330 days	1961
												1966
		Afuom Okyere (1925–2002)	12 February 1969	24 June 1969	132 days			James Rao (1938–1999)	12 February 1969	24 June 1969	132 days	—

Military dictatorship (1969–2002)

	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Election	Term of office			Political party
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
		Maajid al-Salek (1925–2012)	—	24 June 1969	15 April 1992 (deposed)	22 years, 296 days	National Congress Party
			1971
			1977
			1983
			1989
		James Rao (1938–1999)	—	15 April 1992	19 April 1992 (resigned)	4 days	National Congress Party
		Phillip Adongo (born 1965)	—	19 April 1992	1 August 1993	1 year, 104 days	Military
		Suliman Twumasi (1932–1999)	—	1 August 1993	18 November 1999 (assassinated)	6 years, 109 days	Military
		John Odhiambo (born 1941)	—	18 November 1999	27 September 2002	2 years, 313 days	Military

Republic of Batsweda (2002–present)

Salamic member						Christian member						Election
Portrait		Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Portrait		Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office
			Took office	Left office	Time in office				Took office	Left office	Time in office
Posts vacant (27 September 2002 – 23 February 2003)
		Ibrahim Nyarko (1933–2018)	23 February 2003	15 February 2015	11 years, 357 days			Goodson Akinyi (born 1947)	23 February 2003	15 February 2015	11 years, 357 days	2003
												2009
		Karim Donkor (born 1957)	15 February 2015	6 December 2018 (impeached)	3 years, 294 days			Joseph Ochanda (born 1953)	15 February 2015	21 February 2021	6 years, 6 days	2015
Post vacant (6 December 2018 – 18 April 2019)
		Ali Nsonwaa (born 1965)	18 April 2019	21 February 2021	1 year, 309 days							2019
		Hamna al-Ghaffari (born 1972)	21 February 2021	22 May 2022 (deposed)	1 year, 90 days			Andrew Meyo (born 1954)	21 February 2021	22 May 2022 (deposed)	1 year, 90 days	2021
		Hasan Ohemeng (born 1970)	22 May 2022	Incumbent	2 years, 230 days			John Odhiambo (born 1941)	22 May 2022	Incumbent	2 years, 230 days	—

List of living former presidents

As of 2024, eight former presidents are still alive. The last president to pass away was Ibrahim Nyarko in 2018, at the age of 85.

• 

  John Odhiambo (acting)
  Served 1999–2002
  Born 1941 (age 83)

• 

  Goodson Akinyi
  Served 2003–2015
  Born 1947 (age 77)

• 

  Joseph Ochanda
  Served 2015–2021
  Born 1953 (age 71)

• 

  Andrew Meyo
  Served 2021–2022
  Born 1954 (age 70)

• 

  Karim Donkor
  Served 2015–2018
  Born 1957 (age 67)

• 

  Phillip Adongo (acting)
  Served 1992–1993
  Born 1965 (age 59)

• 

  Ali Nsonwaa
  Served 2019–2021
  Born 1965 (age 59)

• 

  Hamna al-Ghaffari
  Served 2021–2022
  Born 1972 (age 52)