Rwandan president becomes Africa's latest to seek extended time in power

(latimes.com) - Rwandan President Paul Kagame will follow the well-worn path of autocrats by seeking a third term in office next year, after changes to the country's constitutional limit that had allowed only two terms.

Kagame announced in a televised New Year's Day address to the nation that he would seek a third presidential term after Rwanda's parliament (where the main opposition party has no seats) voted in favor of changes to the constitution that could allow him to seek additional terms and stay in power until 2034.

In a nation where dissent is crushed and opposition figures have been jailed, Kagame appears certain to win. Few Rwandans are willing to oppose his third-term bid.

More than 3.7 million people in the nation of 12 million signed a petition calling for the change to the constitution to allow Kagame a third term — equivalent to 60% of voters.

Kagame said Friday he "could only accept" Rwandans' call for him to lead the country beyond the presidential election in 2017.

"But I don't think that what we need is an eternal leader," he said in a televised address.