Republic of the Congo
Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso on Tuesday announced that “presidential elections will take place in the first quarter of 2016” instead of July of the same year.
Addressing parliament, he said there was the need to implement the new provisions in the amended constitution. The constitution was amended in November to allow President Sassou Nguesso to run for a third consecutive term.
Referendum
Violent protests preceded a referendum in October in which voters overwhelmingly backed the change in constitution. More than 92 per cent voted in favour according to figures from the Electoral Commission. Voter turn out was put at 72 per cent of about 1.8 million voters.
President Denis Sassou Nguesso has ruled the oil-producing country for 31 years. He is expected to run for the presidential elections in 2016.
01:14
South Africa: Another loss for ANC to stop Jacob Zuma's MK party
02:47
Unraveling the political threads: Inside South Africa's Complex Election Landscape
Go to video
Togo bans protests against arrest of opposition activists, constitutional reform
01:10
New poll finds support for South Africa's ruling ANC is plunging
00:56
South Sudan president presses on holding elections as scheduled
01:38
Congo's President Denis Sassou-Nguesso seeks to foster global peace