The Constitutional Court in the Central African Republic on Friday canceled decrees by President Faustin-Archange Touadéra creating a committee responsible for drafting a new Constitution, on a referral from the opposition who fears that a new fundamental law authorizes the head of state to run for a third term.
The decreesare unconstitutional and invalidated“, indicates the decision rendered by the supreme court. “The revision of the Constitution can only be carried out after the establishment of the Senate“, which is not instituted in the Central African Republic, underlines the decision.
“Victory for the Democrats”
The Constitutional Court also points out that the initiative for a referendum of constitutional revision belongs to the president but that this cannot be done in violation of the oath taken by Faustin-Archange Touadéra during his investiture. He said, “I swear before God and before the nation to scrupulously observe the Constitution (…) nor to revise the number and duration of my mandate“.
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At the end of August, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020 after a vote contested by the opposition, had set up a committee responsible for drafting a new draft Constitution. “More and more voices are rising to demand a modification of the Constitution“, he said. “This is a resounding victory for all Democrats, everywhere“, reacted Friday Me Crépin Mboli-Goumba, main applicant.
“Coup always possible”
“The Constitutional Court has said the law and we accept this decision. We should have consulted it before the draft decree“, declared Fidèle Gouandjika, Minister Special Advisor to the Central African Head of State joined by AFP. But “we are not worried“, he said, adding:”a constitutional coup is always possible“.
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On Friday morning, a large force of gendarmes, police officers and members of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (Minusca) was placed along the avenue leading to the Constitutional Court and only journalists and lawyers could access the site, noted an AFP journalist.
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