Rwandan lawmakers have embarked on a national tour to consult people
on possible constitutional changes to allow strongman President Paul Kagame a
third term in power, according to a report by Agence France Presse.
Last week both houses in parliament voted in support of a
constitutional change, backing a petition signed by over 3.7 million citizens,
which is well over half of the electorate.
The consultations, which end on August 11, will guide lawmakers as
they draft proposed changes.
Any change to the constitution would require a vote in support by at
least three-quarters of both parliamentary houses, followed by a national
referendum.
Kagame, 57, has been at the helm of Rwandan politics since 1994, when
an offensive by his Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) rebels put an end to a
genocide by Hutu extremists that left an estimated 800,000 people dead, most of
whom were Tutsis.
The move comes amid a wider controversy in Africa over efforts by
leaders to change constitutions in order to stay in office.
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| (From left to right) Heads of state from Congo, DR Congo and Rwanda are all attempting to extend their terms limits |
African countries with heads of state currently attempting at
extending term limits, or those expected to in the near future, include
Burundi, Rwanda, Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.