One of the poorest and most troubled countries in the world, the landlocked nation has been gripped by conflict and political turmoil for most of its history after independence from France in 1960.
Touadera’s rivals say he wants to remain “president for life” – under the increasingly visible protection of private Russian mercenary group Wagner, which first deployed to the CAR in 2018.
Voters cast 95.27 percent of their ballots in favour and 4.73 percent against, with a turnout of 61.10 percent in the July 30 referendum, National Election Authority president Mathias Morouba said.
These “provisional” results must be ratified by the constitutional court, which is scheduled to publish the definitive outcome on August 27.
The new constitution would extend the presidential mandate from five to seven years and abolish the two-term limit.
There are no longer obstacles to prevent the 66-year-old head of state from seeking the presidency a third time in 2025. If elected, he could spend 16 years at the helm.
The vote was boycotted by the main opposition parties and civil society organisations, as well as by armed rebel groups.
The opposition complained about the lack of an up-to-date electoral register and said institutions tasked with guaranteeing a free and fair vote were not independent.
Source : France24