President Touadera announces a constitutional referendum

Faustin-Archange Touadera claims to have “ strictly observed »The Basic Law of 2016, which he was sworn in twice. However, according to him, the current constitution Contains provisions that could jeopardize development from the state.

” For this reason, from the promulgation of this Constitution, some political currents in Central Africa as well as the majority of our population have found it insufficient for various and various reasons, in particular that it does not propose adequate solutions to the causes of the frequent army. Political conflicts in the country. »

The Constitution, according to Faustin Arching Touadera, “ It does not explicitly assert state sovereignty or national independenceAnd Nor is the right of self-determination for the people He adds, highlighting the pro-referendum mobilization organized in recent months by groups close to the government. A new event was also announced on Wednesday, May 31.

According to him, this referendum falls within the framework of “ deep reform of the state » that he promised during the 2020 presidential campaign, and will Strengthening our values, and allowing our young democracy to be more dynamic ” And ” Improve the systemic performance of organizations with more emphasis on transparency and accountability “.

The question sparked several months of legal wrangling. HIn September 2022, the Constitutional Court The decree establishing the editorial board was revoked of a new constitution. The head of the institution Daniel DarlanAnd He was automatically retired and at the end of January 2023, the court ratified the law governing the organization of referenda.

the Opponents of Faustin-Archange Touadera Claiming that this reform is only intended to lift the two-term presidential limit implied in the 2016 text. The president of the Central African Republic, who was elected twice, in 2016 and 2020, did not mention in his speech whether this reform project would allow him to run for a third term in a row.

” to Those who have reason to fear the emergence of a new constitution, I would now reassure them, if necessary, that the organization of a constitutional referendum under the conditions required by the constitution cannot be properly analyzed as the will of the President of the Republic to prevent political alternation and ensure democracy and law. »

The President concludes by saying that the citizens of the Central African Republic will be informed in the coming days of the major reforms to the draft new constitution that will be put to a vote on July 30.

>> To read also: The Central African Republic ratifies a law to “tokenize” its resources