© Carol Valade/RFI
Central African President Faustin Archange Touadéra.
Saturday, March 26, opens the last day of the debates of the republican dialogue, supposed to put an end to the crisis which has shaken the Central African Republic for several decades. This Friday, the debates focused on the ” good governance and the rule of law “, but the question of a possible constitutional revision was also addressed.
With our correspondent in Bangui, Carol Valade
It was the plenary that everyone was waiting for: the “good governance” commission recommends a partial revision of the Constitution, on the grounds that it was adopted under a transitional regime. Héritier Doneng, President of the Republican Front and Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, explains that ” the law only disposes of the future ». « Today, we only talk regarding the transition. As a result, this article no longer fits the context of the country “, he adds.
A revision of the Constitution might also open the door to a new candidacy for the president Faustin-Archange Touadera. This eventuality would be the subject of a referendum if it were to see the light of day, replies Héritier Doneng. ” It’s up to the people to decide “, he insists.
The commission’s recommendation made civil society jump, threatening to withdraw from the dialogue. Me Bruno Hyacuinthe Gbiegba, human rights activist, sees in this a desire of President Touadéra to stay in power: “ He finds justifications for staying in power indefinitely. It’s very clumsy. I would tell him to remain his commitment and the fundamental law, namely two terms and one departure. Because no one is irreplaceable. »
The exchanges are stormy in the National Assembly. The presidium withdraws, then returns to announce that the dialogue is not competent on the subject. He refers the question to the President of the Republic and to the National Assembly.
The republican dialogue supposed to put an end to the crisis which is shaking the Central African Republic is taking place without the armed groups, whose main leaders are exiled in Chad, nor the heavyweights of the opposition, who have chosen a boycott.
