Rwanda’s main opposition party opened a case in the Supreme Court on Wednesday with an intention to prevent constitutional change that would allow President Paul Kagame to run for a third term seven-year in office. Reuters reported.
The supreme court adjourned the case after the lawyer for the opposition party; Democratic Green Party, failed to appear.
The Democratic Green Party is the only vocal opposition party in Rwanda.
The debate on term limits has flared in several parts of Africa. Western nations have tried to intervene by pressing African leaders to stick to constitutional rules on presidential terms.
Theoneste Mbonera, a lwyer for the government told the court that the opposition party was not represented in court therefore the case be canceled.
According to Reuters, senior members of the ruling party have urged scrapping of the two-term limits and parliament has said it would debate public petitions calling for president Kagame to stay beyond 2017.
President Paul Kagame has said he opposes a change but is “open” to being convinced.
Kagame is the sixth and current President of Rwanda having taken office in 2000 when his predecessor, Pasteur Bizimungu, resigned.
