Congo backs Nguesso 3rd-term bid by landslide

More than 92% of voters in Congo-Brazzaville’s referendum have approved constitutional changes to allow President Denis Sassou Nguesso to run for a third term, results show. Under the current constitution, the president has been unable to seek re-election because he is over the age of 70 and has already served two terms. The opposition say […]

More than 92% of voters in Congo-Brazzaville’s referendum have approved constitutional changes to allow President Denis Sassou Nguesso to run for a third term, results show.
Under the current constitution, the president has been unable to seek re-election because he is over the age of 70 and has already served two terms.
The opposition say turnout was low and the vote should be annulled.
More than 1.2 million people voted in favour of the change – 92.3% of voters – while nearly 102,000 rejected it, the electoral commission said.
Nguesso, 71, first coming to power in 1979 and ruling until 1992 when he lost elections. He returned in 1997 after a civil war and has since won two elections. He is now coming to the end of his second seven-year term.