Rwanda's parliament is to debate changing the country's constitution in order to allow strongman and President Paul Kagame to stand for a third consecutive term in elections in 2017, an official said Wednesday.

The debate, set to take place over the next two months, was prompted by parliament receiving a petition signed by two million people -- or roughly 17 percent of the population -- asking for the constitution to be changed, the head of the chamber, Donatilla Mukabalisa, told AFP.