Congo: Weak participation in referendum

                             


The referendum this Sunday in the Congo, to enable the candidacy of President Denis Sassou Nguesso for a third term in 2016, was marked by a low turnout. The opposition considered that the head of state suffered "humiliation".


The referendum had no queues in the capital, according to France Press agency, and the scene would have been the same in the rest of the country.

The turnout of voters in the popular Congo consultation would have been in the 10 percent, according to the opposition leader Pascal Tsaty Mabiala, who considered that President Denis Sassou Nguesso suffered "humiliation" at the polls and that "the Congolese refused vote. "

Opponents of the head of state had asked voters not to vote, denouncing a 'constitutional coup ".

Voters should endorse a draft constitutional amendment to allow, in 2016, the candidacy for a third term of President Denis Sassou Nguesso, 71 and in power for 30. The 2002 Congolese Constitution provides for a limit of two presidential terms and exclude candidates from more than 70 years. Therefore, the Congolese were called to rule on the possibility of "renewed twice" the presidential term and to cancel the age limit of candidates.

Sassou Nguesso was president Denis between 1979-1992, returned to power in 1997 after a civil war, was elected in 2002 and reelected in 2009.

Amend the constitution to stay in power

Sassou Nguesso is Denis latest president to try to modify the constitution to remain in power. In September, the opposition mobilized thousands of people to protest the decision. Last week, four people were killed when the police opened fire on demonstrators who dared to take to the streets to challenge the intent of the president, despite the ban on public meetings.

Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore President was removed from power by a popular revolt in October last year after 27 years in power.

In Burundi, President Pierre Nkurunziza managed to win a third term in July, despite the popular discontent.

Rwanda and Congo Republic also plan to change its constitution.

Other African leaders have also adapted the rules as José Eduardo dos Santos (Angola), Abdelaziz Bouteflika (Algeria), Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe), Ismaël Omar Guelleh (Djibouti), Paul Biya (Cameroon), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Idriss Deby Itno (Chad) and Gnassingbe Eyadema (Togo).