select opposition parties that did support the revision.
The opposition groups opposed to the measure say they are concerned that, despite Aziz’s claims to the contrary, he is laying the groundwork for a third term in power – with his own prime minister saying back in July that he supported the idea.
Mauritanians fear dictatorship after referendum vote (2:29)
Scrapping term limits would enable Abdel Aziz to follow leaders of more than a dozen other African countries including in Uganda, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and more recently Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Aziz himself fuelled speculation on Saturday by saying that “in two years, or even 10 years, other amendments could arise to adapt our constitution to reality,” without elaborating.
The proposal to modify the constitution, in force since 1991, was rejected by the Senate in March, leading Aziz to call the referendum to push through the changes.
Around 20 senators, who have held a sit-in for three days at their chamber, suspended their protest and said they would gather on Monday to consider the “fraud” committed by Aziz and his supporters, according to a statement.
President Aziz came to power in a coup in 2008 and was elected in 2009 and again in 2014 for a second five-year term.
The Mauritanian flag will now feature red bands added to the current green flag with yellow Islamic crescent and star, to honour the blood spilled by those who fought for freedom from colonial master France .
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