Opposition leaders in the Central African Republic (CAR) have condemned the adoption of a controversial draft constitution that paves the way for presidential tenure elongation in the volatile country.
Mathias Morouba, head of the national poll body announced on Monday that voters cast 95.27 percent of their ballots in favour and 4.73 percent against, with a turnout of 61.10 percent in the referendum which began on July 30.
President Faustin-Archange Touadera is now eligible to run for another term in 2025. If elected, he could spend 16 years at the helm.
In response, his rivals have said the president is seeking a life presidency.
“It’s a comedy … we’ve all seen that people didn’t go out to vote and it doesn’t reflect the will of the Central African people,” said Crepin Mboli-Goumba, coordinator of the BRDC opposition coalition.
The constitution will now replace the current one that only allows presidents to serve two four-year terms. It also allows for the position of a vice president and a unicameral legislature, binning its Senate.
According to reports, there was a low turnout, especially in the capital. In one location in Bangui on July 30, a Reuters reporter saw only two dozen people in the queue.
The CAR has struggled to find stability since independence in 1960.
Source: Aljazeera.com
