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Rwanda’s Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favour of President Paul Kagame third term bid, dismissing the suit of the main opposition party, which sought to prevent changes in the constitution.
Following the report of a nationwide consultation which started on July 20, 2015, 24 senators unanimously voted for an amendment of the nation’s constitution to allow Kagame run a third term.
The report, which was presented in August, said only 10 Rwandans opposed the removal of the constitutional term limit.
The opposition challenged the report by seeking legal redress.
However, in its ruling on Thursday, the court held that “all depends on the opinions of the people”, adding that going against the people’s will is not democracy.
The opposition Democratic Green Party, which brought the case before the Supreme Court, said it would continue to push for protection of existing constitutional term limits, “bedevilling” Africa.
“We are not happy but we’ve not given up. We are going to appeal to the president,” Green party leader, Frank Habineza told Reuters after the ruling.
The constitutional changes must pass a referendum although there is little chance of them failing due to Kagame’s influence in the media and as his popularity as a nation-builder based on the 1994 genocide.
Apart from kagame, two African leaders, Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, Denis Nguesso of Congo-Brazzaville, have sought tenure extension in 2015 alone.
While Nkurunziza’s bid pulled through, Nguesso is still trying to clear obstacles on the path of his tenure renewal.
Read more at: https://www.thecable.ng/supreme-court-clears-kagame-run-3rd…
Following the report of a nationwide consultation which started on July 20, 2015, 24 senators unanimously voted for an amendment of the nation’s constitution to allow Kagame run a third term.
The report, which was presented in August, said only 10 Rwandans opposed the removal of the constitutional term limit.
The opposition challenged the report by seeking legal redress.
However, in its ruling on Thursday, the court held that “all depends on the opinions of the people”, adding that going against the people’s will is not democracy.
The opposition Democratic Green Party, which brought the case before the Supreme Court, said it would continue to push for protection of existing constitutional term limits, “bedevilling” Africa.
“We are not happy but we’ve not given up. We are going to appeal to the president,” Green party leader, Frank Habineza told Reuters after the ruling.
The constitutional changes must pass a referendum although there is little chance of them failing due to Kagame’s influence in the media and as his popularity as a nation-builder based on the 1994 genocide.
Apart from kagame, two African leaders, Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, Denis Nguesso of Congo-Brazzaville, have sought tenure extension in 2015 alone.
While Nkurunziza’s bid pulled through, Nguesso is still trying to clear obstacles on the path of his tenure renewal.
Read more at: https://www.thecable.ng/supreme-court-clears-kagame-run-3rd…
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