This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-35125690

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Rwandans vote on allowing third Kagame presidential term Rwandans vote on allowing third Kagame presidential term
(about 14 hours later)
Rwandans are voting in a referendum on a constitutional amendment to allow President Paul Kagame to seek a third term in office.Rwandans are voting in a referendum on a constitutional amendment to allow President Paul Kagame to seek a third term in office.
Most voters, some 6.4 million, are eligible to vote on Friday, but around 37,000 Rwandans living overseas were able to have their say on Thursday.Most voters, some 6.4 million, are eligible to vote on Friday, but around 37,000 Rwandans living overseas were able to have their say on Thursday.
The change would allow Mr Kagame to potentially remain in power until 2034.The change would allow Mr Kagame to potentially remain in power until 2034.
Rwandans are expected to vote overwhelmingly in favour of changing the constitution.Rwandans are expected to vote overwhelmingly in favour of changing the constitution.
Mr Kagame is praised at home and abroad for bringing about development and economic growth, reports the BBC's Catherine Byaruhanga in the Rwandan capital Kigali. At the scene: Catherine Byaruhanga, BBC Africa, Kigali
But his critics accuse him of heavy-handed rule and human rights abuses, she adds. People have been steadily streaming in to Rugunga polling station close to State House in Kigali. It is a streamlined and efficient process. Several classrooms in the school here are being used for the ballot, so waiting times do not seem long. The only excitement is the music playing on the speakers put up.
Mr Kagame himself has said he will wait for the outcome of the referendum before making his decision on whether to run in 2017. There has been no campaigning in this referendum - the law does not allow it. Public rallies have been carried out around the country to give people information about the ballot. The government views this as a national non-partisan exercise. Blue, yellow and green colours of the Rwandan flag can be seen everywhere including around the polling booths.
Rwanda's Senate approved draft constitutional amendments last month allowing Mr Kagame to run for another seven-year term. Mr Kagame is praised at home and abroad for bringing about development and economic growth, but his critics accuse him of heavy-handed rule and human rights abuses. The president himself has said he will wait for the outcome of the referendum before making his decision on whether to run in 2017.
But the amendments also shorten the length of a term from seven to five years and maintain a two-term limit. Read more updates on Africa Live
However, those rules would not come into effect until 2024, after Mr Kagame's third term. Paul Kagame: Visionary or tyrant?
Mr Kagame could then potentially run for another two five-year terms - ruling for some 40 years. The arrogance of power
One 22-year-old voter in neighbouring Uganda's capital Kampala told AFP: "I came to vote... because we want our president to continue leading us".One 22-year-old voter in neighbouring Uganda's capital Kampala told AFP: "I came to vote... because we want our president to continue leading us".
But another said voting was a waste of time "because we know the results already". "Kagame wants to stay in power... he can have what he wants," he said. But another said voting was a waste of time "because we know the results already".
"Kagame wants to stay in power... he can have what he wants," he said.
What are Rwandans voting on?
1) Presidential term limits:
2) Senators' term limits: To be extended from one eight-year term to two five-year terms
3) Gacaca courts: References to the community courts set up to deal with those accused of involvement in the 1994 genocide are to be removed as they have finished trying nearly two million people
If more than 50% of voters agree to the amendments, Mr Kagame could leave power after 34 years as president - he was first elected to the position by MPs in 2000.
Mr Kagame's Rwanda Patriotic Front, an ethnic Tutsi rebel force, ended the 1994 genocide perpetrated by Hutu extremists.Mr Kagame's Rwanda Patriotic Front, an ethnic Tutsi rebel force, ended the 1994 genocide perpetrated by Hutu extremists.
Some 800,000 people - Tutsis and moderate Hutus - are estimated to have been killed.Some 800,000 people - Tutsis and moderate Hutus - are estimated to have been killed.
Donor countries, which support the Rwandan government, have been very critical of the move to change the constitution.Donor countries, which support the Rwandan government, have been very critical of the move to change the constitution.
The US urged Mr Kagame to step down in 2017, saying he had "an opportunity to set an example for a region in which leaders seem too tempted to view themselves as indispensable to their own countries' trajectories".The US urged Mr Kagame to step down in 2017, saying he had "an opportunity to set an example for a region in which leaders seem too tempted to view themselves as indispensable to their own countries' trajectories".
The president has hit back at "other nations" for interfering in Rwanda's internal affairs.The president has hit back at "other nations" for interfering in Rwanda's internal affairs.
But the issue of African presidents seeking a third term in office has caused unrest elsewhere on the continent. The issue of African presidents seeking a third term in office has caused unrest elsewhere on the continent this year, including in Burundi and Congo-Brazzaville.
Violence has engulfed neighbouring Burundi since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced in April his plans to seek a third term, in violation of a peace accord that brought an end to the country's brutal 12-year ethnic civil war.
And in September, there were major protests in the Republic of Congo as President Denis Sassou Nguesso called a referendum to approve constitutional changes allowing him to stand for a third term.