Central African Republic President Wins Referendum With Help From Russian Wagner

(Patria) - The referendum that allowed the President of the Central African Republic (CAR) to run for office as many times as he wishes has been called a farce by opponents, BBC reports.

The electoral commission says 95% of voters supported the constitutional changes, while critics say turnout was only 10%. The CAR is still in the midst of a civil war that has displaced a third of its population.

President Faustin-Archange Touadéra has the support of the Russian mercenary group Wagner. Additional Wagner fighters arrived ahead of the referendum for security purposes.
Wagner forces have been accused of war crimes as they support President Touadéra in his fight against rebel groups that still control large parts of the country. They are reportedly trading in the timber industry and minerals.

The proposed new law would abolish the current two-term limit and extend the presidential term from five to seven years. It would also prohibit politicians with dual citizenship from running for president unless they renounce their second citizenship.

Human Rights Watch says this brings back memories of the anti-Balaka militias that targeted Muslims for their alleged links to the Séléka rebels in the 2013 conflict, in which hundreds were killed in the ongoing civil conflict to this day.

Opposition parties and some civil society groups boycotted the July 30 referendum vote, calling it a "constitutional coup" designed to keep President Touadéra in power for life. They also say the electoral process lacked transparency and that there were insufficient consultations beforehand.

The amendments would create a new position of vice president, appointed by the president. The Senate would be abolished, and parliament would be transformed into a unicameral body. The president and his allies say they are following the "will of the people."