Guinea’s President Alpha Condé has refused to meet a delegation of West African leaders as the country heads towards a referendum that could allow him run for a third term, reports Radio France Internationale (RFI)

A delegation of heads of states from the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), was scheduled to visit Guinea on Friday, RFI reports quoting high-ranking sources.

It was to be led by Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou and was to include Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari, Ghana’s Nana Akufo-Addo and Burkina Faso’s Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.

Guinea has been plunged into political crisis over President Condé’s push for constitutional reforms through a referendum that will be held on 1 March. The opposition has said it will boycott the vote.

Opponents see the process as a plot to enable the 81-year-old leader, who is nearing the end of the two terms allotted under the present constitution, to stay in power for up to another decade.

Several protesters have died in various anti-government demonstrations in recent months.