Republic of the Congo constitutional referendum, 2015

A constitutional referendum was held in Congo-Brazzaville on 25 October 2015 regarding a proposal to change the constitution, primarily to modify the rules regarding presidential terms.

After Denis Sassou Nguesso returned to power in the 1997 civil war, a new constitution was approved in the January 2002 constitutional referendum. The 2002 constitution provided for a strong executive presidency, without a prime minister, and weakened the legislature; the length of presidential terms was increased to seven years (with a limit of two terms), and an age limit of 70 years for presidential candidates was established, apparently to exclude Sassou Nguesso's most important political opponents, who had either reached that age or were nearing it. Parties opposed to Sassou Nguesso criticized the new constitution and called for the people to boycott the 2002 referendum.

Under the 2002 constitution, Sassou Nguesso was elected as President in 2002 and re-elected in 2009. As the end of Sassou Nguesso's second term approached, and he passed the age limit of 70 years, the ruling Congolese Labour Party (PCT) promoted public discussion of the idea of replacing the 2002 constitution. While the opposition saw these discussions strictly in light of the presumed intention of Sassou Nguesso to remain in power beyond 2016, the PCT argued that a new constitution would provide for better governance, and Sassou Nguesso himself said nothing about whether or not he wanted to run for re-election. Eventually it was announced that a referendum would be held on a proposed new constitution, and on 5 October 2015 it was announced that the referendum would be held on 25 October.

The draft constitution was divided into 246 articles. It would allow a person to be elected as President three times, eliminate an age limit of 70 years for candidates, and reduce the length of presidential terms from seven years to five years. While eliminating the maximum age limit, it would reduce the minimum age requirement for candidates from 40 to 30 years. It would also establish the post of Prime Minister as head of government, rather than the President. The changes would allow President Denis Sassou Nguesso, whose second term was due to expire in 2016, to run for re-election.

The official campaign period for the referendum was scheduled to run from 9 October to 23 October 2015. Speaking at the beginning of the campaign period, Raymond Mboulou, the Minister of the Interior, stressed the importance of campaigning being conducted "in a climate of social peace, a climate of tolerance, of acceptance of different opinions, a climate that excludes provocations ... and which fundamentally preserves the public order."

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