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Central African Republic

https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/

April 2025

Two armed groups re-join peace process that began in 2019

On 19 April, two of the armed groups that have opposed the central government since the election of Faustin-Archange Touadéra in 2021, signed an agreement to re-join the peace process that had been initiated in 2019. The two groups are Unité pour la paix en Centrafrique (UPC, Union for Peace in the Central African Republic) and Retour, Réclamation et Réhabilitation (3R, Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation), both of which have predominantly Fulani supporters. The negotiations to re-enter the peace process were facilitated by Fulani traditional leaders (especially Issa Bi Amadou), with negotiations taking place in Chad. Other armed groups have rejected the agreement and continue their opposition to the central government. 

Sources: BarronsJeune AfriqueNews 24

February 2025

Civilian deaths surge amid escalating inter-communal violence

Civilian deaths surged in the Central African Republic (CAR) in February, amid escalating inter-communal violence in the west of the country, between Anti-balaka and Fulani pastoralists. The Anti-balaka is a coalition of militias drawn largely from Christian and animist communities which, since its formation in 2013, has been engaged in a violent struggle for power and resources in the country with predominantly Muslim communities, including ethnic Fulani. The violence in February was triggered by a deadly robbery, that took place in the Ouham-Pendé prefecture and was carried out by former members of a demobilised Anti-balaka militia, who stole a motorcycle, gold and some money. It led to reprisal and counterattacks coordinated by local militias and targeting civilians, with the vast majority of the victims reported to be Fulani. According to ACLED, a conflict data initiative, the violence resulted in at least 130 civilian fatalities, making it the deadliest month in the CAR since March 2022.     

Sources: Corbeau News Centrafrique, Armed Conflict Location and Event Data  

January 2025

Parliament passes law protecting human rights defenders

On 27 December, the Central African Republic’s (CAR) National Assembly passed a law protecting human rights defenders (HRDs), which it defines as, ‘individuals, journalists, activists, lawyers, organizations and institutions working to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms’. Among the law’s provisions are a series of HRD rights and state obligations, which are intended to enhance HRD security and facilitate their work. These include the right to receive financial and other support to achieve their human rights objectives, protections against searches and surveillance, and state obligations to prevent and protect HRDs against reprisals. Journalists and civil society activists in the country have been subjected to human rights abuses by both state security forces and armed rebel groups, and the passage of the law was welcomed as an important development in CAR’s democracy by UN expert, Yao Agbetse.

Sources: Loi portant promotion et protection des défenseurs des droits de l’Homme, United Nations, Front Line Defenders, Human Rights Watch    

July 2023

Referendum approves new constitution that extends presidential terms

A lengthy process to replace the constitution in the Central African Republic concluded with a referendum held on 30 July. The official results indicated that 95 per cent of those who voted supported ratification of the new constitution, with turnout reported as 57 per cent of registered voters. Opposition parties dismissed the referendum as a ‘farce.’ The most widely discussed changes in the new constitution concern presidential terms. Under the new constitution the length of the president’s term will be seven years (up from five) and there will be no limit on the number of terms a president may serve. Current President Faustin Archange Touadera had pushed for this new constitution, and is widely expected to make use of the new provisions on presidential terms to seek to extend his time in office.

Sources: AfricaNews, Radio France Internationale, Associated Press, British Broadcasting Corporation

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Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2025

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Representation
133/173
Rights
157/173
Rule of Law
168/173
Participation
146/173

Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
5 742 315
System of government
Presidential system
Head of government
Prime Minister Félix Moloua (since 2022)
Head of government party
United Hearts Movement (MCU)
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
Two-Round System
Women in lower or single chamber
11.4%
Women in upper chamber
Not applicable
Last legislative election
2021
Head of state
President Faustin-Archange Touadéra
Selection process for head of state
Direct election (two-round majority)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
26/01/2024
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
96.54%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
State Party
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
Regional Treaties
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
State Party
in
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Performance by category over the last 6 months

Representation neutral Representation
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Representation neutral Rights
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Representation neutral Rule of law
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Representation neutral Participation
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Global State of Democracy Indices

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Explore the indices
Representation
Representation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
Rule of Law
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/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
Participation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

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