The presidential term limit in Comoros has been extended after President Azali Assoumani won a referendum to that effect.
The referendum result ends a system of rotating power among the archipelago’s three main islands.
The constitution until the referendum provides for the presidency to rotate every five years among candidates from the country’s three main islands.
This was to promote stability and power-sharing in the country.
Majority of citizens in Comoros voted yes allowing President Assoumani to run for two more five year-terms.
Assoumani says 92.74 percent of voters picked “Yes” to change the constitution, while 7.26 percent chose “No”.
The President will contest next year’s early election without requiring to step down end his current tenure in 2021.
Azali Asoumani has said that the the rotation system is not effective and makes it difficult to execute long term projects.
The opposition has rejected the July 30 referendum and demanded the restoration of the constitutional court.
Assoumani suspended the constitutional court further heightening tension in the country.
President Assoumani who is a former military officer, seized power in a coup in 1999. He was re-elected in 2016 after serving an elected term as president from 2002-2006.
Source: Africafeeds.com
