Republic of Congo capital rocked by protest against referendum to extend president’s rule
BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of the Congo(AP) _ Witnesses say police in Republic of Congo’s capital have fired tear gas to try to disperse protests against a constitutional referendum that could make the country’s longtime president eligible for a new term.
Politicians campaigning against the planned Oct. 25 referendum had called for a campaign of “civil disobedience” to begin Tuesday.
Rudel Ganziami, a resident of Brazzaville’s southern Bacongo district, said young demonstrators burned tires in the streets and erected barricades Tuesday morning, prompting the police response.
Under current laws 71-year-old President Denis Sassou N’Guesso would be barred from seeking re-election when his second term expires next year. The referendum calls for the limit of two terms to be scrapped as well as changing a regulation stating candidates must be no older than 70 years.
Alwin Marshall-Squire is the Editor-in-Chief of S-Q Publications Inc., overseeing editorial strategy for GTA Weekly, GTA Today, and Vision Newspaper. He leads the publications’ mission to deliver bold, original journalism focused on the people and communities of the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, and the global Caribbean diaspora.
Also writes for GTA Weekly and GTA Today.
