Rwanda’s main opposition party says it is considering other legal procedures to halt the amendment of the country’s Constitution to remove presidential term limits after the Supreme Court dismissed a case challenging the change of laws.

The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda said it will make an appeal to President Paul Kagame, who, according to the country’s law is the guardian of the Constitution.

“According to Article 98 of the Rwandan Constitution, the president of the republic is the guardian of the Constitution and guarantor of national unity. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda will therefore appeal to the president to ensure the non-lifting of presidential term limits in the constitution,” said Frank Habineza, the party’s president.

The Green Party said it is also considering petitioning the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights as well as the East African Court of Justice.

The Supreme Court in Kigali on Thursday, chaired by the Chief Justice Sam Rugege, ruled in favour of changing the constitution, dismissing the case filed by the Green Party.

The court’s decision reinforced the already ongoing work by an independent commission set up to oversee the review of the country’s Constitution and determine articles to be amended. 

The country is now likely to have a referendum in coming months paving way for the amendment of the Constitution.  

Over 3.7 million people signed a petition calling for constitutional changes to allow President Kagame, who is serving his second seven-year term, to stand again in 2017, a move that was approved by the country's legislators.

The Green Party said it also plans to conduct a 'No Change' campaign nationwide to sensitise Rwandans not to vote for the change of the Constitution, in case of a national referendum is held, Mr Habineza added.