Burundi is holding a referendum on presidential term limit which could extend President Pierre Nkurunziza’s stay in power until 2034.
The small and impoverished Central Africa nation has been unstable since 2015, when Nkurunziza decided to seek a third term in office that his opponents said was unconstitutional.
The referendum will decide whether to amend the constitution to extend presidential terms to seven years from five.
The proposed changes would limit the president to two consecutive terms but would not take into account previous terms, potentially extending Nkurunziza’s rule to 2034.
The campaign for the referendum has been marred by violence and intimidation. Last week more than 26 villagers in Burundi’s north-west were murdered by armed men who stormed homes with knives and setting them on fire.
The deadly attack in the Cibitoke province is was considered an attempt to disrupt Thursday’s referendum.
President Pierre Nkurunziza has been in power since 2005 but his desire to extend his rule has sparked series of violence.
Source: Africafeeds.com
