Written by Michael Gordon | From The New York Times

Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday publicly urged the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo to respect his nation’s Constitution and not run for another term in 2016.

There has been speculation among the political opposition that President Joseph Kabila, who has been in office since 2001, might seek to have the Constitution amended so that he could run for a third term in office.

“Clearly, the United States believes that a country is strengthened, that people have respect for their nation and their government, when a constitutional process is properly implemented and upheld by that government,” Mr. Kerry said in a news conference here.

“He has an opportunity, which he understands, to be able to put the country on a continued path to democracy,” he added.

It was not clear how hard Mr. Kerry pressed his case in his closed-door meeting Sunday morning with Mr. Kabila at his white marble presidential palace. But Russell D. Feingold, the American special envoy for the region, was more explicit in a briefing for reporters Sunday morning.

“The people of this country have a right to have their Constitution respected,” Mr. Feingold said. “The Constitution here provides for two terms.”

Mr. Kabila had no comment on the American statements and has not said whether he might seek to have the Constitution changed.

Read more at The New York Times