RWANDA: VOTERS APPROVE CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM TO EXTEND PRESIDENTIAL TERM LIMIT

Approximately six million Rwandans on Saturday approved a referendum by a vote of 98% to amend Article 101 of the Rwanda constitution  which states the president may only serve two seven-year terms. The referendum will allow President Paul Kagame  to serve another seven-year term beginning in 2017 and then two more five-year terms. Kagame has served as president since 2003. Last month, the Rwandan Senate unanimously approved the referendum following approval from Rwanda's lower house of Parliament in October. Also in October, Rwanda's Supreme Court agreed to hear a case challenging the constitutionality of the referendum. Countries providing international aid to Rwanda expressed concern regarding the referendum, which could extend Kagame's term to 2034. The director of the Royal African Society, Britain's prime African organization, stated "The longer somebody stays in power, the less effective they are and breaking the rule of law and the constitution weakens the state."   Sources: Jurist.org