Rwandans vote in referendum to decide if President Paul Kagame can extend his time in power

KIGALI, Rwanda – Rwandans are voting in a referendum to decide if President Paul Kagame should be allowed to extend his time in power.

Kagame, 58, is ineligible to run in 2017 because the Rwandan constitution limits a president to two terms. But if Rwandans vote to change the term restriction, Kagame would be able to run for an additional seven-year term and then two-five terms. He could possibly stay in power until 2034.

Kagame became president in 2000 after being Rwanda's de facto leader since the end of the country's genocide in 1994. He is credited with stabilizing and promoting economic growth after the mass killings, but critics say he is an authoritarian ruler who does not tolerate opposition.

Rwanda's political opposition criticizes the referendum as undemocratic.