The European Union (EU) has called for more inclusive democratic procedures in the Central African Republic (CAR) in the wake of a contentious constitutional referendum that led to the extension of presidential term limits. The EU’s foreign affairs spokesman, Peter Stano, took note of the referendum’s results, expressed concern about the ongoing political polarization in CAR, and emphasized the necessity of improved transparency in the democratic processes there. Details here.
The constitutional referendum in question, held in July, offered a variety of proposed amendments to CAR’s constitution. A significant aspect of these reforms was the removal of the two-term limit for the presidential office and an increase in the presidential term from five to seven years. Approval of these changes would also render the current president eligible to run for a third term in the approaching 2025 elections. Further information on the constitutional referendum can be found here.
The referendum’s results were officially approved by CAR’s Constitutional Court earlier this week. The ‘yes’ camp received 95.3 percent of the vote, while the ‘no’ camp secured 4.97 percent. However, the opposition strongly contests the results, arguing that they do not truly represent the will of the people. The court’s decision is discussed in detail in this video.
In response to the referendum result, the United States released a press statement expressing concern over several issues that could jeopardize the country’s democratic processes. Specifically, the US highlighted low voter turnout and concerns about ballot secrecy. The US urged CAR to hold free and fair elections and emphasized the importance of including all stakeholders to ensure transparent, fair, and inclusive electoral procedures. You can read the US’s official statement here.