The BRDC bloc, which brings together the main opposition leaders, demonstrated in the streets of Bangui on Friday morning July 14 despite the government ban. The Ministry of the Interior and Public Security had justified the measure, because of its ” subversive character ” and some ” security situation “. Opponents of President Faustin-Archange Touadéra are still denouncing the referendum for a new constitution, scheduled for July 30, and accuse the head of state of wanting to assume a presidency for life.
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Leaving on Avenue Barthélémy Boganda, named after the father of the Central African nation, it was at Place des Martyrs that the demonstrators of the Republican Bloc for the Defense of the Constitution (BRDC) ended their march. This was supervised by the United Nations Peace Mission in the Central African Republic (Minusca), according to the organizers.
The procession, which marched without violence and without being prevented, numbered 500 people: the BRDC claims a figure at least 10 times higher. Opposition leaders, dressed in colorful scarves, marched at the head of a procession.
Despite prohibition and warnings from the Central African authoritiesthe opposition bloc refused to back down.
” Every day or almost, the partisans of power demonstrate and they did so again two weeks ago, when the project [de nouvelle constitution – NDLR] was officially presentedsays the coordinator of the BRDC and president of the Patrie Crépin Mboli-Goumba party. Despite the rain, despite the number of soldiers who were there to impress, so despite the intimidation and the prohibitions, the people came out en masse to say no to this illegal referendum. Because prohibited by the Constitutional Court of our country. »
“ A monarchy that hides under a Republic »
The BRDC is meeting on Monday July 17 to define future actions against the referendum on July 30.
There new constitution plans to break the lock on the number of presidential terms. What to offer a lifetime presidency to President Faustin-Archange Touaderaaccording to Martin Ziguele, the president of the Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC) party.
The one who is also spokesperson for the BRDC recalls that the Central African Republic is ” a country that remembers the sacrifices we had to make to achieve the Republic. We cannot accept a monarchy that hides under a Republic “.
According to Martin Ziguele, president of the MLPC and spokesperson for the BRDC, “all the maneuvers Faustin-Archange Touadéra made was to impose the indefinitely renewable seven-year term. That means he wants a lifetime presidency.”