Rwandan leader eyes referendum to linger on until 2034

Rwandan authorities have decided on Dec. 18 to hold a referendum in the country to give its final verdict on a new constitution that could potentially allow the current president to stay in power until at least 2034.

In an official statement released after a cabinet meeting chaired by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, the government said: “The cabinet meeting has approved the presidential order determining the date and purpose of the referendum.

“The referendum will be held on Dec. 17 for Rwandans casting their votes outside Rwanda and on Dec. 18 for Rwandans casting their votes in Rwanda.”

The Rwandan senate has already unanimously approved the draft constitution that would allow Kagame to bid for at least three more terms.

The new constitution gives the impression that the presidential mandate will be reduced from seven to five years and would be renewable only once. But the controversy starts from which date you begin to count the term of the presidency.

Kagame has been in power since 2000 and is expected to serve his current term of seven years until 2017. However, once the new constitution gets the approval of the people through the referendum, Kagame will be entitled to a “transitional term” of another seven years, putting him at the helm until 2024.

After 2024, if he wishes, Kagame can again seek another term, but this time not for seven, but for only five years, putting him hypothetically in power until 2029.

If he so desires to stay onto power beyond 2029, then according to the new constitution, Kagame will have such an option only “once”, and then only, theoretically, his term would finally come to an end in 2034.  

Kagame, 58, is a former rebel leader, who served as vice president and defense minister between 1994 and 2000.

He became president in 2000 after President Pasteur Bizimungu resigned.

A constitution was adopted in Rwanda through a referendum in 2003, which has been amended three times by the parliament.

The latest move is considered by the opposition and by the international observers as a maneuver orchestrated by the government to stay in power. However, the Rwandan parliament claims it has received over four million petitions between June and August requesting for Kagame to stay in power for many, many years.