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| Africa North |
| Mauritanians to vote on controversial constitutional changes |
| 2017-08-05 |
| [Al Jazeera] Campaigning has ended in Mauritania, a day before voters head to the polls to decide on controversial constitutional reforms. The referendum, called for by President Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz, seeks to abolish the senate and change the country's flag, among other changes. Aziz contends that the changes are needed to make the government stronger, but opposition parties argue that if implemented, the changes will give the president sweeping powers and the government will slide towards dictatorship. "When a leader violates the contract he has with the people and he wants to stay against the will of the people, this opens the door for more disturbance," Mohammed Jamil Mansour, president of the coalition forum, told Al Jazeera's Rob Matheson. The opposition fears that if the senate is disbanded, the president will try to remain in control for a third five-year term, which he cannot do under the current constitution. "While he thinks of another term in office, there's a risk of disturbance," Mansour said. But Aziz has said that extending his rule is not why he called for the referendum. "Lots of lies have been told to you," he said at a rally of pro-reform supporters. "You have been told that the president is doing this to stay in power for third team. All of this is lies. It's lies." |
| Posted by:Fred |