Congo to vote on extending veteran leader's rule as opposition vows fightback

The constitution currently bars the 72-year-old, who has already had three decades in power, from seeking another presidential term as there is an age limit of 70 as well as a ceiling of two mandates.

Sassou Nguesso is among several African leaders who have sparked controversy by seeking to extend his stranglehold on power and the move prompted a massive protest in the country's capital Brazzaville when announced last month.

Similar recent moves by his peers have resulted in violence, notably in nearby Burundi where President Pierre Nkurunziza's controversial and globally condemned third term has sparked an abortive coup and a sweeping crackdown.

Late last year, the iron-fisted ruler of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore, was toppled by popular street protests after trying to prolong his 27-year-rule and a recent coup attempt by one of his closest aides only lasted a week.

The Congolese government said late Monday that the October 25 referendum would be on scrapping both the two-term limit for presidential candidates and the age cap.

"After an enriching debate...the Council of Ministers, with each member fully conscious of the historic character of the event, voted to adopt the project to reform the constitutional law," a statement said.

"The referendum is fixed for October 25," it said adding that the campaign period would run from October 9 to 23.

The proposed amendment would also whittle down the presidential term from seven to five years.

- 'Living in the wrong era' -

Pascal Tsaty Mabiala, a leader of the main opposition PanAfrican Union for Social Democracy party told AFP that Sassou Nguesso was "living in the wrong era."

"We will oppose him right to the end," he said, adding that Sassou Nguesso "relies on brute force ... and we count on popular support."

In August, Sassou Nguesso sacked two ministers who came out against plans to extend his mandate without giving any official reason.

In late September, thousands of people demonstrated in a rare protest in Brazzaville, the biggest since Sassou Nguesso returned to power in 1997, dubbing the planned changes a "constitutional coup".

Slogans such as "Sassou out!" echoed through Brazzaville's central Boulevard des Armees as some protesters carried banners reading "Sassoufit", a play on words that sound like "that is enough" in French, the nation's official language.

The roughly two-hour demonstration ended without violence, though some local businesses closed up early fearing there might be trouble.

Sassou Nguesso was president from 1979 until 1992. He then served as opposition leader and returned to power at the end of a brief civil war in 1997.

He was elected president in 2002, then again in 2009, prompting cries of fraud from his foes.

Sassou Nguesso had previously convened a "national dialogue", which came out "by a large majority" in favour of amending the constitution to remove the term and age limits.

Source: AFP