Guinean president announces new draft constitution

Guinean President Alpha Condé has announced a new draft constitution which would pave the way for the 81-year-old to stand as president for a third term.

This is despite huge protests in the country over the last two months.

He will submit the draft constitution to the Guinean public for approval but did not specify when exactly that would happen. Radio France Internationale reports.

He also did not mention in the speech if he actually intends to run in the next election at the end of 2020.

Thousands hit the streets in multiple protests in the last few months over what they suspect is an effort by Mr Condé to seek a third term.

Human rights organisation Amnesty International says people who protest peacefully are being jailed.

It says five of the leaders of the protest group National Front for the Defense of the Constitution were sentenced to up to one year in prison after they were arrested on 12 October this year.

Mr Condé has been president since 2010.

Despite weeks of protests, Guinean President Alpha Condé announces his plan to revise the constitution, which could allow the 81-year-old to seek a third term. https://t.co/lht5HIVuvO

— Louise Dewast (@LouiseDewast) December 19, 2019