Central African Republic limits future presidents to two terms
by Joseph
Earnest August 31, 2015
Newscast Media BANGUI,
Central Africa—Central African Republic's transitional government on Sunday adopted a
new constitution that would limit future presidents to two terms in
office as the country seeks to end more than a year of sectarian
violence.
The new charter would limit the president's mandate to
five years that can only be renewed once and cannot be prolonged for any
reason, and would create a new senate to help govern.
The
constitution, which will now be put to a public vote, also includes the
creation of a special court to judge the most serious crimes.
"I
urge the Central African people, when the time comes, to give strong
backing to this new fundamental law to allow our country to get back on
the path to a normal constitutional order," said Alexandre-Ferdinand
Nguendet, chairman of the National Transitional Council.
The
Central African Republic descended into bloodshed after a 2013 coup
against longtime leader Francois Bozize unleashed a wave of violence,
pitting Christian anti-Balaka militias against mostly Muslim Seleka
rebels.
Its transitional leaders have planned a constitutional
referendum before the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled
for October 18.
But the elections have already been delayed
twice due to the logistical and security challenges of holding the vote
in regions still gripped by violence.
In the latest incident, at
least 20 people were killed last week and many others injured in days of
sectarian clashes sparked by the death of a young Muslim, police
sources said.
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