Hollande advises African leaders to respect the constitution

President Francois Hollande of France has urged African leaders to respect their constitutional term limits or risk political instability.

Speaking in Cotonou, capital of Benin Republic, during a two-day visit, Hollande made reference to the crisis in Burundi, where many people have been killed in violent clashes.

Opposition parties in the country are against the decision of President Pierre Nkurunziza to seek a third term.

Hollande noted how the inordinate ambition of some continental leaders have plunged their countries into crisis, using Burkina Faso’s longtime ruler, Blaise Compaore, who was toppled in a popular uprising last October, to buttress his point.

“We witnessed it again in Burkina Faso. Today in Burundi we are seeing the consequences. When these (constitutional) rules are not respected, are not shared, then there are risks and there are consequences,” he told reporters.

Hollande said France was concerned about the security situation in Africa because the crisis in the continent has consequences in Europe.

“France is thinking of its security, because what happens in Africa has consequences in Europe … So by ensuring the fight against terrorism with our African friends, we are protecting ourselves,” he said.

Hollande departed Benin Republic for Angola.