Zambian Court Bars Ex-President Lungu from 2026 Election Bid

Zambia's Constitutional Court has barred former President Edgar Lungu from running for re-election in 2026, ruling that he has already served the maximum two terms allowed by law. Lungu, who was first elected in 2015 to complete the term of his predecessor, argued that this partial term should not count, but the court disagreed. This decision ends a legal battle and clarifies the eligibility criteria for future presidential candidates. Lungu accepted the verdict but criticized it as politically manipulated, while the government welcomed the ruling as a safeguard for democracy.