CAR leader announces constitutional referendum

Faustin-Archange Touadéra, President the Central African Republic (CAR) announced Tuesday a referendum for a new Constitution.
“I have therefore decided, after consultation with the President of the Constitutional Court and the President of the National Assembly, in accordance with Article 90 of the Constitution of March 30, 2016 and Article 2 of the Emergency Act of January 13, 2023, setting the procedures for referendums in the Central African Republic, to submit to referendum the draft of a new Constitution of the Central African Republic”, Touadera said in an address to the nation.
“The said referendum should lead to a “reform” of the State whose sole aim is to “promote” values, and enable our “young democracy” to be more dynamic, to improve the regular functioning of institutions by placing greater emphasis on transparency and accountability, and to dream of a radiant and better future for the Central African Republic”, he added.
Critics of the leader argue that the 66-year-old is planning to remove term limit, and wants to run again in 2025 for a third term. Touadera installed a Commission to draft the proposed changes in September 2022, but the top court ruled the Committee unconstitutional and annulled it.
In the yesterday address, the leader said a draft of the new charter would be submitted to a referendum.
It is unclear when the process will start. Touadera came to power in 2016 following a civil war unleashed by the overthrow of former President Francois Bozize three years earlier.