Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

top

Africa

Rwandan leader’s allies seek vote to allow him a third term

– A president who ‘protects’ –

But Kagame’s supporters say he should stand again to ensure peace in a country which was ravaged by genocide and is located in a volatile region.

“We must continue with a president who can protect” the country and “ensure wolves do not interfere in Rwandan politics,” wrote Harerimana in the Ighie article.

The “wolves” may be a reference to three former and serving army officers formerly part of the inner circle who were recently arrested, or aimed at critics who were once close to Kagame and are now exiled in South Africa.

A Western expert on Rwanda said the move comes against the backdrop of “rising dangers” to the regime and internal and external challenges to Kagame.

Kagame has skirted the issue of a third term.

In April, he vowed to abide by the constitution but said at the same time that it was “nothing more than the expression of the will of the people at a time and in a given context”.

“I do not know of any country where the constitution is immutable,” he said.

Kris Berwouts, an independent analyst specialising in central Africa, said it could be the case that Kagame’s supporters were raising the issue to test domestic and international reactions.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Only the small Democratic Green Party, recently registered and with little influence in a country with no real opposition, has said openly it is against any constitutional reform.

“We do not support the constitutional amendment regarding the lifting of term limits for the president,” party president Frank Habineza told AFP.

“We believe that respecting the term limits allows peaceful transfer of power, and avoids a scenario of a life president like in Zimbabwe.”

Many suggest the real debate will take place within Kagame’s RPF, which must consider the risk of criticism from foreign allies.

During the US-Africa Summit in August in Washington, the US Secretary of State John Kerry called on African leaders not to amend their constitutions for “personal or political benefits.”

About The Author

Pages: 1 2

Comments
Advertisement

More on Capital News