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Republic of Congo opposition to launch campaign against referendum

Xinhua, August 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Congo Democracy Initiative (IDC), a new political platform comprised of three opposition parties, on Tuesday announced it will launch campaigns to sensitize the population to boycott the proposed referendum to amend Republic of Congo's 2002 Constitution.

The awareness campaign that will begin on Aug. 16 in the capital Brazzaville, will spread to other parts of the country.

During a meeting of its highest organ, IDC reiterated its appeal to the Congolese population to oppose any proposal by the government to amend the Constitution.

"The Congolese people should prepare to say no to the referendum and to amendment of the Constitution. The Congolese people should use force without violence," IDC said in a statement.

The Congolese political class is divided on the issue of constitutional amendment.

Participants at a political forum held last month in Sidibi, some 250 km west of Brazzaville, and which was boycotted by key opposition parties, supported the proposed constitutional amendments.

In the current state of the Constitution, President Denis Sassou Nguesso cannot contest for another term during the 2016 presidential elections since he will have completed his second term.

Sassou Nguesso has been the president of the Republic of Congo since 1997; he was previously president from 1979 to 1992. Enditem