Rwanda's supreme court dismisses term limits case

Rwanda's Supreme Court Thursday dismissed a law suit challenging constitutional amendment to allow incumbent President Paul Kagame to run for a third term.

The Supreme Court's bench of nine judges led by the Chief Justice Sam Rugege held that there was nothing in the Constitution that prohibited the amendment of article 101.

"Although Article 193 provides a complex procedure for amending Article 101, it does not prohibit amendment of any of its parts, meaning that if that procedure is properly followed both the duration of presidential term and the numbers of terms are amenable to amendment," said Chief Justice reading the judgment.

The case was filed by the Democratic Green Party. Kagame's second seven-year term expires in 2017.

More than 3.7 million Rwandans, representing over 60 percent of voters petitioned parliament agitating for constitutional amendment to allow Kagame to stand again in 2017, a move backed by parliament.

The Green Party sought declarations that Article 101 of the Constitution is unamendable.

The party also argued that allowing the referendum aimed at amending the Constitution on term limits would undermine democracy.

But in its ruling, judge Rugege said the court's decision was in the interests of democracy and in line with the constitution.

A seven-member commission set up last month to review the proposed amendments has started its work.

After Thursday's ruling, the Green Party vowed to conduct a "No Change" campaign nationwide, sensitizing Rwandans against voting for the change of the constitution, in case of a national referendum. Endit