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A constitutional referendum was held in the Central African Republic on 13 and 14 December 2015. The referendum was originally scheduled to be held on 5 October 2015, prior to general elections, but was later delayed. Violence on polling day led to voting being extended for another day. The new constitution was approved by 93% of voters. General elections followed on 30 December.
Contents
Background
The new constitution was approved by a large majority in the Transitional Council on 30 August 2015. It provides for the creation of a Senate and a National Election Authority, as well as requiring decisions made by the President and Prime Minister to be approved by ministers, and for the government to inform the National Assembly when a contract relating to mineral resources is signed. Only 15,000 copies of the new constitution were published.
Conduct
An unidentified MINUSCA source said that voting was delayed in several districts across Bangui, although not in the PK5 district, where gunfire broke out overnight. Approximately two million citizens registered to vote. Many of the 5,600 polling stations were located in remote regions.