{"id":182610,"date":"2016-01-18T16:03:35","date_gmt":"2016-01-18T16:03:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=182610"},"modified":"2016-01-18T16:03:35","modified_gmt":"2016-01-18T16:03:35","slug":"senegal-president-macky-sall-seeks-shorter-terms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=182610","title":{"rendered":"Senegal President seeks shorter terms"},"content":{"rendered":"

Senegal’s President Macky Sall has proposed to cut his own term in office by two years.<\/p>\n

Changing the president’s mandate from seven to five years is part of several proposals for constitutional reforms which are to be put to a referendum.<\/p>\n

The president’s office say they are aiming to strengthen democracy.<\/p>\n

Several African presidents have recently done the opposite – changing constitutions to extend their time in power.<\/p>\n

The new constitution would not allow a president to run for more than two consecutive terms in office.<\/p>\n

The BBC’s Nadege Sinarinzi in Dakar says after reducing his term in office, Mr Sall is then expected to put himself forward for re-election in 2017 instead of 2019.<\/p>\n

Other suggested amendments to the constitution include an upper age limit of 75 years.<\/p>\n

The date of the referendum is yet to be announced.<\/p>\n

Mr Sall, 54, was elected in 2012, defeating the incumbent Abdoulaye Wade, who had controversially sought a third term in office.<\/p>\n

Term limit debate flares across Africa:<\/p>\n