Bujumbura

Top man: The president of Burundi has become the latest African leader to seek to change the constitution in order to remain in office. Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to stand for a controversial third term in 2015, and subsequent victory, triggered a wave of violent protests in a country blighted by recent ethnic conflicts. He now plans to hold a referendum that would limit presidents to two seven-year terms. If approved, this could mean he is able to serve two more terms, in addition to the three he has served under the current constitution. Meanwhile, his party has declared him its “eternal supreme guide”, meaning that no one in the party may disagree with him. “He is our parent, he is the one who advises us,” said its secretary general, Evariste Ndayishimiye.