Central African Republic's President Faustin Archange Touadera addresses the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York City, US, September 20, 2022.Central African Republic's President Faustin Archange Touadera addresses the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York City, US, September 20, 2022.
The already twice-elected Touadera’s government earlier this month issued a decree telling 28 higher education officials born between 1946 and 1955 to retire from December 31. But in a letter to the government on Wednesday, she noted that constitutional judges serve a seven-year mandate that cannot be ended without the court’s consent.The government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The vast but-sparsely populated nation of about five million people is one of the world’s poorest despite its potential wealth from diamonds, timber and gold.
Touadera’s allies in May suggested reforms that would alter a constitutional clause saying presidents can only run twice, arguing this was uncommon around neighbouring countries.