The President of Ivory Coast Alassane Ouattara has revealed that he could run again in 2020 for another term as leader of the West African nation since his country’s constitution permits him.
He told the French magazine Jeune Afrique that “The new constitution authorizes me to serve two terms starting in 2020”.
The 76 year old leader however said that “I will only make a definitive decision then, based on the situation in Ivory Coast. Stability and peace come before all else, including my principles”.
Ouattara has already won two separate elections and is currently serving is second term in office which ends in 2020 but could stand for a third term.
The new constitution permits two-term limit but since Quattara won previous elections under the old constitution, that would not count against him.
In November 2016 Ivorian voters approved the new constitution but the process was boycotted by the opposition.
The old constitution required that both parents of any presidential candidate be natural-born Ivorian citizens. That requirement disqualified Ouattara from the 2000 presidential election, fuelling a split within the country.
Ivory Coast is not the only country that has altered his constitution in a bid to have their sitting presidents remain in power.
Last month Burundi’s new constitution which allows for changes to be made to presidential term limits was approved by voters in a referendum. It could keep its president, Pierre Nkurunziza in power until 2034.
Source: Africafeeds.com
