(Ecofin Agency) - The Congolese opposition called, on 27 October, for “civil disobedience until the withdrawal” of the new constitution adopted during a referendum organised on Sunday 25 October, considering the results of this vote has “null and void”.

The Republican Front for the Respect of the Constitutional Order and Democratic Change (FROCAD - Front républicain pour le respect de l'ordre constitutionnel et l'alternance démocratique), which gathers the two main coalitions of the opposition to President Denis Sassou Nguesso, asked, in a declaration read to the media in Brazzaville for “the outright withdrawal of the project, the release of jailed militants, lifting the house arrest measure against some leaders and for inclusive talks to be held promptly”.

The authorities announced in the morning of Tuesday 27 October that the constitution project which enables Mr Sassou Nguesso to seek a third term in 2016 had been adopted following the referendum which took place on Sunday, indicating that there were 92.26% votes for the Yes with a turnout of 72.44%.

The opposition, who called for the boycott of this referendum, immediately denounced “cheating”. “The poll was neither free, nor just, or fair, or transparent. This is a sham poll which took place under siege”, specified FROCAD, making reference to the ban on public meetings during the week preceding the vote and the deadly violence which occurred before the poll.

“We will continue the civil disobedience until the withdrawal of this constitution project which was a farce”, Guy-Romain Kinfoussia (photo), spokesperson for FROCAD, declared to the media.

On 26 October, the opposition estimated that the turnout did not go over “10%”. Observers and media had also unanimously declared that voters massively stayed away from the ballot box on the polling day.