On Sunday, voters in the Central African Republic, a country known for its ongoing conflicts and economic struggles, will participate in a crucial election. The election centers around a contentious proposal to amend the constitution, potentially paving the way for President Faustin Archange Touadera to serve a third term.
Having faced a tumultuous period lasting over a decade, the land-locked nation remains one of the poorest and most unstable countries globally. It endured a civil war marked by sectarian divisions following a coup, during which France and the United Nations offered assistance to help stabilize the situation.
Despite some decrease in violence in recent times, pockets of territory are still under the control of rebel groups, and President Touadera continues to hold power with the support of Russian paramilitary forces.
Touadera was initially elected in 2016, amid the country’s post-war recovery. His re-election in 2020, however, was marred by accusations of fraud and a low voter turnout. Many citizens, particularly in rebel-held areas, were discouraged from casting their ballots due to intimidation.
The proposed constitutional amendment aims to extend the presidential term from five to seven years while eliminating the two-term limit. Proponents of the change argue that this would reset Touadera’s tenure, enabling him to run for the presidency once more.
“The will of the people” forms the basis of this constitution, as expressed in a public dialogue held in March 2022, according to Evariste Ngamana, the deputy parliamentary speaker and spokesperson for the pro-Touadera majority in parliament. The aim is to establish institutional stability and create favorable conditions for development.
However, the main opposition parties and civil society groups are calling for a boycott of the upcoming poll, citing an incomplete electoral roll and electoral overseers lacking independence, thereby branding it flawed. Martin Ziguele, the president of the Central African People’s Liberation Movement (MLPC), accuses the government of attempting a constitutional coup d’etat with the goal of allowing unlimited presidential terms, thereby seeking to hold on to power indefinitely.
In Bangui, citizens are voicing concerns that the focus should be on addressing poverty, corruption, and violence rather than pursuing a third term for the president. Some feel that critical issues, such as insurgencies, theft, and loss of lives, are being neglected in favor of extending the president’s tenure.
While there have been some protests against the referendum, they have been relatively muted, with reports of opponents facing threats and harassment. The judiciary also dealt a blow to President Touadera by scrapping the establishment of a committee tasked with drafting the new constitution.
Despite approximately 1.9 million eligible voters, intimidation in rebel-held areas raises questions about their ability to participate in the upcoming vote. President Touadera has stated that both Russia and Rwanda will provide support for the vote’s security.
The revision of constitutions to justify extending presidential terms has become a growing trend in Africa, seen in countries like Guinea and Ivory Coast in 2020. This trend also emerged as a possibility in Senegal, but the incumbent, Macky Sall, announced he would step down at the end of his second term. Mali, with the support of Wagner-linked forces, recently pushed through a new constitution following a controversial referendum, with the promise that it would guide the country’s return to civilian rule next year.