Rwandans have voted overwhelmingly to allow President Paul Kagame to extend his term in office, initial referendum results show.<\/p>\n
Some 98 percent of voters support changing the constitution to allow him to run again in 2017 after his second term ends, the National Electoral Commission said.<\/p>\n
Kagame, 58, could remain in power until 2034 if the changes are passed.<\/p>\n
The vote took place despite criticism of such an amendment by the US and other Western donors.<\/p>\n
Rwanda’s electoral commission said 21 out of 30 districts had published results so far, covering about 70 percent of voters.<\/p>\n
Full results are due to be released later on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Kagame has not said if he will run again, but he is widely expected to.<\/p>\n
Asked at the polling station if he would stay on, he said: “What is happening is the people’s choice. Ask people why they want me.”<\/p>\n
However, the US has said Kagame should step down in 2017 to allow a new generation of leaders to emerge.<\/p>\n
Rights groups accuse the government of stifling the media and political opposition.<\/p>\n
The small opposition Democratic Green Party claimed it had been prevented from campaigning against the change.<\/p>\n
Kagame has been president since 2000 but has held power since 1994, when his rebel force entered the capital Kigali to end the country’s genocide.<\/p>\n
The debate over extending presidential terms has led to instability in other African countries such as Burundi and Congo Republic, but has not caused unrest in Rwanda.<\/p>\n
Follow Us<\/p>\n