Guinea delays constitutional referendum again

FILE PHOTO: Guinea's President Alpha Conde greets his supporters at a past rally in Conakry. If the constitutional changes are passed, President Condé – 82 years old – would be free to seek a third term in office./Getty Images

Guinea has for a second time postponed a referendum proposing a change of constitution in the country.

President Alpha Condé initially delayed the vote last month citing concerns over the fairness of the process.

Voters were also due to elect members of parliament on Sunday 15 March, 2020.

The electoral commission said there had to be another postponement as it was awaiting a report from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

If the constitutional changes are passed, President Condé – 82 years old – would be free to seek a third term in office.

The changes do not propose a removal of term limits, but would extend presidential mandates to six years from five.

The adoption of the changes would however mean that the terms already served by President Condé would not count.

Guinea's current constitution was written during the country’s military rule between 2008 and 2010.

Source(s): BBC