Voting opens in Central African Rep. referendum

(30 Jul 2023) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Bangui - 30 July 2023 1. Various of election materials being brought to voting station in a school ahead of polls opening 2. Various of officials preparing polling station 3. Sign on polling station 4. Voting booth being set up 5. Poster reading (French): "National elections authority" 6. Various of officials preparing voting materials 7. Various of voters queuing 8. Various of people voting and waiting to vote 9. SOUNDBITE (French) Didier Fresostata, Bangui resident: "For all citizens, voting is a civic duty, so it's a duty to do it." 10. Various of people voting STORYLINE: Voting began early Sunday in the Central African Republic in a referendum on a new constitution, which changes presidential term limits. President Faustin-Archange Touadera is proposing to extend presidential terms from five to seven years, which will enable him to run for a third term in 2025. At a school in the country's capital Bangui, elections officials set up voting booths as local residents arrived to cast their ballots. Analysts say the newly proposed constitution, which replaces the one adopted at Touadera’s inauguration in 2016, could entrench the ruling party’s power indefinitely. The mineral-rich but impoverished nation has faced intercommunal fighting since 2013, which a UN peacekeeping mission in the country has been helping to contain. Touadera brought in Russia’s Wagner mercenaries who have helped keep him in power. =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...