A new constitution has been adopted in Gabon scrapping the country’s presidential term limit of two seven-year term.
The new constitution received overwhelming votes from members of Gabon’s national assembly.
This means Gabon’s President Ali Bongo could remain in power without any limit.
The new constitution also provides immunity for the President from prosecution during and after his time in office.
Critics of Ali Bongo have condemned the new move with the opposition calling it an attempt to turn Gabon into a monarchy.
Mr Bongo came into office in 2009 taking over from his father, Omar Bongo, who ruled for 42 years, died.
Lawmakers in Uganda last year also voted to remove the presidential age limit in the country’s constitution which could allow the President, Yoweri Museveni to seek re-election without any limit.
Museveni recently said that when African leaders have less number of time in office for a term, they are not able to execute projects for their citizens effectively.
Museveni said in a statement from his office that “For these countries with all these problems … five years is just a joke.”
Museveni was further quoted as saying that “Leaders in Africa have much more to do and need adequate time (between elections) to develop the continent.”
Source: Africafeeds.com
