A Central African Republic court has nullified a constitutional reform commission, striking down President Faustin-Archangel Touaderi’s bid to lift term limits so he can continue to run for office, the court’s president said Friday.
Touader’s allies in May proposed changing the constitution to remove presidential term limits, arguing that this is rare for most neighboring countries.
Several other African presidents, including those in Rwanda, the Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast and Guinea, have pushed through constitutional and other legal changes in recent years to allow themselves to remain in office.
Last week, Tuadero created a commission to draft the proposed changes. He has previously proposed amending the constitution to allow himself and other lawmakers to remain in office if the election is postponed.
Touadero was elected in 2016 in a vote that followed a civil war sparked three years ago by the ouster of former president Francois Bozize.
He was re-elected in 2020 amid an onslaught of rebel groups, including those backed by Bozize, who briefly threatened the capital, Bangui.
