New Constitution In Central African Republic Opens Door For Touadera’s Third Term

Voters in the Central African Republic overwhelmingly approved a draft constitution that paves the way for Faustin Archange Touadera to seek a third term as president.

Touadera’s rivals say he wants to remain “president for life” under the increasingly visible protection of private Russian mercenary group Wagner, which first deployed to the CAR in 2018. Voters cast 95.27 percent of their ballots in favour and 4.73 percent against, with a turnout of 61.10 percent in the July 30 referendum, National Election Authority President Mathias Morouba said.

These “provisional” results must be ratified by the constitutional court, which is scheduled to publish the definitive outcome on August 27. The new constitution would extend the presidential mandate from five to seven years and abolish the two-term limit.

The vote was boycotted by the main opposition parties and civil society organisations, as well as by armed rebel groups. The opposition complained about the lack of an up-to-date electoral register and said institutions tasked with guaranteeing a free and fair vote were not independent.