CAR: Landslide “yes” in referendum on new constitution – Electoral commission

The Central African Republic’s electoral body, L’Autorité nationale des élections (ANE), indicated that the July referendum on the new Constitution, allowing incumbent leader Faustin Archange Touadéra in power since 2016 to run for another term, has been popularly validated with 95.27 per cent of votes.

Mathias Morouba, head of the ANE, indicated that 4.73 per cent rejected the referendum. He put turnout at 61.10 per cent. The new Constitution removes the cap on the two-term basis and will allow Touadera to run in 2025. The new text also extends the term period of five years to seven years.

The final results will be rubber-stamped on August 27 by the country’s Constitutional court.

Touadera’s critics, including former President Francois Bozize, rejected the referendum and accused him of wanting to hijack power.

The Central African country slid into civil war in 2013 after Bozize was ousted by turned self-appointed President, Michel Djotodia.