Bangui \u2013 Prominent Central African Republic opposition figure, Anicet-Georges Dologu\u00e9l\u00e9, has filed a complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Committee after a court ruling stripped him of his citizenship. Dologu\u00e9l\u00e9 alleges the move is a politically motivated attempt to exclude him from the upcoming presidential election scheduled for December 28th.<\/p>\n
Dologu\u00e9l\u00e9, founder of the Union for the Rebirth of the Central African Republic (URCA) party and a leading challenger to incumbent President Faustin-Archange Touad\u00e9ra, told DZWatch that he expects to regain his citizenship and passport to be able to contest the election. He described the court\u2019s decision as \u201carbitrary\u201d and indicative of political pressure on the judiciary.<\/p>\n
The controversy stems from an October 16th ruling by a Bangui court, shortly after Dologu\u00e9l\u00e9 submitted his candidacy, stating that he automatically lost his CAR citizenship when he acquired French citizenship in 1994, based on a 1961 nationality law. Although Dologu\u00e9l\u00e9 announced in August that he had renounced his French citizenship to comply with recent constitutional amendments, the court deemed this insufficient to restore his original nationality.<\/p>\n
Dologu\u00e9l\u00e9 maintains that \u201cno one can be left stateless,\u201d accusing authorities of \u201csystematic targeting.\u201d His lawyers, who filed the complaint in Geneva, described the decision as an attempt to \u201cconfiscate democracy.\u201d Opponents argue the constitutional amendments, approved in a 2023 referendum, were designed to entrench the current president’s power.<\/p>\n
The 2023 referendum included controversial changes barring individuals with dual nationality from running for president and removing term limits, potentially paving the way for Touad\u00e9ra to seek a third term. The Constitutional Council is expected to announce the final list of candidates by November 16th, ahead of the quadrennial elections, encompassing presidential, legislative, regional, and municipal races.<\/p>\n
Approximately 2.3 million voters are expected to head to the polls amidst a tense political climate. The situation remains fluid as the country approaches the crucial election date.<\/em><\/p>\n