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 Central African Republicportal |
A constitutional referendum was held in the Central African Republic on 30 July 2023. [1] [2]
Incumbent president Faustin-Archange Touadéra's party, the United Hearts Movement, proposed abolishing term limits in 2022, arguing that presidential term limits were uncommon in many neighboring countries. Critics and opposition parties held protests as the reform would allow president Touadéra to run again in 2025 for a third term. President Touadéra installed a 55-member commission (all appointed by him) to draft the proposed changes in August. However, the Constitutional Court ruled the committee unconstitutional and annulled it, stating that a constitutional reform process could not be triggered without consent from the Senate, which at the time had still not been established according to the 2015 constitution. [3] Touadéra responded by sacking the head of the Constitutional Court, illegal under the 2015 constitution, [4] which opposition parties saw as a self coup. [5] [6] The head of the court, Danièle Darlan, alleged that she had been approached earlier that year by the chargé d'affaires of the Russian Embassy, Bangui, who asked her how they could ensure Touadéra remained in power. [7]
President Touadéra announced in May 2023 he would hold a referendum on 30 July to change the constitution. [1] This has reportedly been divisive, [8] and the surrounding situation in the country has been volatile. [9] The text of the new constitution was not made public until 10 July, less than three weeks before the vote. [10] Additionally, the official preparations for the referendum occurred shortly before a temporary recall of some members of the Wagner Group, who had been assisting in securing several regions of the country, following their rebellion in June. [11]
Provisional results released by the government on 6 August stated that the referendum was approved by over 95% of those voting, with a turnout of around 60%. These figures were contested by the opposition, which boycotted the referendum, with the opposition estimating actual turnout as below 15%. Some opposition figures also claimed that "no" ballots were not present at several polling stations. [17] The Constitutional Court validated the results of the referendum on 20 August. [18] [19]
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 960,660 | 95.03 | |
| Against | 50,235 | 4.97 | |
| Total | 1,010,895 | 100.00 | |
| Valid votes | 1,010,895 | 95.06 | |
| Invalid votes | 47,152 | 4.43 | |
| Blank votes | 5,428 | 0.51 | |
| Total votes | 1,063,475 | 100.00 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 1,858,230 | 57.23 | |
| Source: Oubangui Media | |||
The United States State Department issued a press release through spokesperson Matthew Miller, stating that "[t]he United States notes with deep reservations reports of low voter participation and concerns over secrecy of the ballot. Free and fair elections, with inclusive electoral processes are essential for any democracy." The State Department further called on the Central African Republic's government to issue a date for local elections. [20]
Politics of Niger takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Niger is head of state and the Prime Minister of Niger head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly.
François Bozizé Yangouvonda is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2003 to 2013. He was also the only Central African president born in modern day Gabon.
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Mamadou Tandja was a Nigerien politician who was President of Niger from 1999 to 2010. He was President of the National Movement for the Development Society (MNSD) from 1991 to 1999 and unsuccessfully ran as the MNSD's presidential candidate in 1993 and 1996 before being elected to his first term in 1999. While serving as President of Niger, he was also Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States from 2005 to 2007.
The Constitution of Burundi was adopted by referendum on February 28, 2005 and promulgated on March 18, 2005.
Faustin-Archange Touadéra is a Central African politician and academic who has been President of the Central African Republic since March 2016. He previously was Prime Minister of the Central African Republic from January 2008 to January 2013. In the December 2015 – February 2016 presidential election, he was elected to the presidency in a second round of voting against former Prime Minister Anicet Georges Dologuélé. He was re-elected for a second term on 27 December 2020.
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General elections were held in the Central African Republic on 30 December 2015 to elect the president and National Assembly. As no presidential candidate received more than 50% of the vote, and following the annulling of the results of the National Assembly elections by the Transitional Constitutional Court, a second round of the presidential elections and a re-run of the parliamentary elections were held on 14 February 2016, with second round run-offs for the parliamentary elections on 31 March.
Catherine Samba-Panza is a Central African politician who served as Transitional President of the Central African Republic from 2014 to 2016. She is the first woman to serve as head of state in the Central African Republic. Prior to her tenure as acting president, she was the Mayor of Bangui from 2013 to 2014.
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The French constitution of 4 October 1958 was revised many times in its early years. Changes to this fundamental law have become more frequent since the 1990s, for two major reasons:
A constitutional referendum was held in the Republic of the Congo on 25 October 2015 regarding a proposal to change the constitution, primarily to modify the rules regarding presidential terms.
A two-part constitutional referendum was held in Mauritania on 5 August 2017, having initially been planned for 15 July. Voters were asked whether they approve of proposed amendments to the constitution. Both proposals were approved by 86% of voters with a voter turnout of 54%.
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A constitutional referendum has been planned to be held in Burkina Faso since 2019. Shortly before his reelection in November 2020, President Kaboré, who first initiated the project for a new constitution as part of his 2015 campaign, called for the referendum to be held in 2021. If approved, the new constitution would end the Fourth Republic created in 1991.
General elections were held in the Central African Republic on 27 December 2020 to elect the President and National Assembly. A second round of the legislative elections was originally scheduled to take place on 14 February 2021.
A constitutional referendum was held in Tunisia on 25 July 2022 by the Independent High Authority for Elections. The referendum was supported by the Tunisian president, Kais Saied, one year into a political crisis that began on 25 July 2021.
The Constitutional Court is the highest authority in Benin on matters of constitutionality. Composed of seven justices, it is the body that regulates the functioning of government institutions and the activities of public figures. The court was founded in 1993. Its domicile is in Cotonou.
Danièle Darlan is a Central African lawyer, professor and jurist who served as President of the country's Constitutional Court from 2017 to 2022. Her appointment was abruptly revoked by President Faustin-Archange Touadéra by a presidential decree in October 2022, with Jean-Pierre Waboe temporarily assuming her role on 28 October 2022.
Presidential elections are scheduled to be held in 2024 in Tunisia. They will be the first presidential elections since president Saied’s self-coup.
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