(Ecofin Agency) - Rwanda’s senate adopted on November 17, a constitutional reform allowing president Paul Kagame to obtain a third mandate in 2017 and remain in power till 2034.

The Senators who mostly belong to the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF, President Kagame’s party) voted the new 101 and 172 acts. The new 101 act reduces the presidential mandate from 7 to 5 years and limits it to two renewals. The 172 act however highlights that this change is only to come into effect at the end of the next 7-years mandate (2017 to 2024) for which the “current” president is still eligible to run for, just like for the two following 5-years mandates stated in the 101 act.

This draft constitution had already been adopted last October ending by the Chamber of deputies which was also appointed by RFP. However, the new constitution is to officially be adopted via a referendum whose date is yet to be set.

Rwanda’s current constitution limits to two the number of presidential mandates and therefore normally prevents Paul Kagame who had been elected in 2003 and 2010, to present himself for a third election.

The debate over the constitutional reform was presented as resulting from popular initiative. According to the two Chambers of parliaments, about 3.7 million of Rwandans over the 6 million that vote signed petitions requiring the 101 act of constitution reviewed. The opposition and some observers however mention a “scheme of the authorities in power” to allow President Kagame to remain where in charge.