The opposition, who boycotted the vote, says it’s all about President, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to extend his mandate and join Africa’s presidents forever club.

Before the weekend vote, Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, described the country’s upper house as useless and too costly.

He maintains abolishing the senate will improve governance by introducing more local forms of lawmaking.

The opposition, who’s boycott meant a little over half the population voted, says the referendum, which attracted 85 percent cent of those cast their ballots,  will give Abdel Aziz too much power over decision making including the ability to scrap presidential term limits.

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But the continental body’s given the men in uniform some breathing space.

Mauritanian president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz , who’s the rotating president of the African Union is visiting Burkina Faso.

He tells the media in Ouagadougou that he hasn’t come to threaten or impose anything.

It’s the first sign the continental body has taken its foot off the pedal of demanding the army relinquish power by the end of this week or face sanctions.

He says the AU’s bent on accompanying their Burkinabe brothers to find their own solution.

The AU insists the Ouagadougou military hand over to civilians the power they seized after massive protests forced President Blaise Compaore to flee to Ivory Coast last month.

Opposition parties and civil society groups have handed the army their proposal for a transitional charter.

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