Central African Republic 2016

The human person is sacred and inviolable. All agents of public authority, [and] any organization, have the absolute obligation to respect it and to protect it.

The Republic recognizes the existence of the Rights of Man as the basis for all human community, of peace and of justice in the world.

The Republic proclaims respect [for] and the intangible guarantee of the development of the personality.

Each has the right to the free development of their personality if they neither violate the rights of others, nor infringe the constitutional order.

Each has the right to life and to physical and moral integrity. There may not be derogation of this principle except in application of a law.

No one may be subjected either to torture, or to rape [viol], or to cruel, inhuman, degrading or humiliating acts or treatment.

No one may be arbitrarily arrested or detained.

Every defendant is presumed innocent until their culpability has been established following a procedure offering to them the guarantees indisputable for their defense.

The rights of defense are exercised freely before all the jurisdictions and the administrations of the Republic.

No one may be convicted except by virtue of a law [which] had entered into force before the act committed.

Any person made the object of a measure deprivative of liberty has the right of being examined and treated by a doctor of their choice.

The freedom of the person is inviolable.

The freedoms of movement [aller et venir], of residence and of establishment on the whole extent of the territory are guaranteed to all within the conditions established by the law.

No one can be forced into exile.

The Republic guarantees to persecuted persons the right of asylum.

No one may be made the object of house arrest, except by virtue of a law.

All human beings are equal before the law without distinction of race, of ethnic origin, of region, of sex, of religion, of political affiliation and of social position.

The State assures the reinforced protection of the rights of the minorities, of the autochthonous peoples, and of handicapped persons.

The law guarantees to the man and to the woman equal rights in all the domains. In the Central African Republic one is neither subject [to] nor [has] a privilege of place of birth, of person or of family.

The family constitutes the natural and moral basis of the human community.

Marriage is the union between a man and a woman. It is organized by the law.

The family and marriage are placed under the protection of the State.

The State and the other public collectivities have, collectively [ensemble], the duty to see to the physical and moral health of the family and to encourage it socially by the appropriate institutions.

The protection of the woman and of the child against violence and insecurity, exploitation and moral, intellectual and physical neglect[,] is an obligation of the State and the other public collectivities. This protection is assured by the appropriate measures and institutions of the State and of the other public collectivities.

Parents have the natural right and the primordial duty to raise and educate their children so as to develop in them [a] good physical, intellectual and moral aptitude. They are supported in this task by the State and the other public collectivities.

Children born outside of marriage have the same rights to public assistance as legitimate children.

Natural children, legally recognized, have the same rights as legitimate children.

The State and the other public collectivities have the duty to create the prerequisite [prealable] conditions and the public institutions that guarantee the education of children.

The State guarantees to all the right of access to the establishments of public care as well as the benefit of adequate medical treatments provided by professionals trained and endowed with the necessary equipment.

The private establishments of care may be opened with the authorization of he State and within the conditions established by the law.

They are placed under the control of the services of the State and/or of the Territorial Collectivities.

The State may, when the circumstances so demand and in view of the protection of the public health, take temporary measures of control, of prevention and even of restriction of the freedoms.

Each has the right of access to sources of knowledge. The State guarantees to any citizen access to instruction, to culture, and to professional training [formation].

Education and instruction must be provided to youth by public or private establishments.

Private establishments may be opened with the authorization of the State, within the conditions established by the law. They are placed under the control of the State.

Parents have the obligation to provide education and instruction to their children until the age of sixteen (16) years at least.

The State and other public collectivities have the obligation to create and to assure the good functioning of the public establishments for the education and the instruction of youth.

Education is gratuitous in the public establishments at the various [divers] levels of education.

The freedom of conscience, of assembly, [and] of religion and of beliefs [cultes] are guaranteed to all within the conditions established by the law.

Any form of religious fundamentalism [intégrisme] and intolerance is prohibited.

The Republic guarantees to every citizen the right to work, to a healthy environment, to rest and to recreation within the conditions established by the law. It assures to them the conditions favorable for their development through an efficient policy of employment.

All citizens are equal concerning employment. No one may be discriminated against in their work or their employment because of their origin, of their sex, of their opinions or of their beliefs.

All workers participate, through the intermediary of their representatives, in the determination of working conditions.

The laws establish the conditions of assistance and of protection accorded to workers, and most particularly to the most young, to the most elderly, to the handicapped and to the minorities.

The syndical right is guaranteed and is exercised freely within the framework of the laws which regulate it.

Any worker can affiliate with the union of their choice and defend their rights and interests through trade union action.

The right to strike is guaranteed and is exercised within the framework of the laws which regulate it and may, in no case, infringe either the freedom to work, or the free exercise of the right of property [propriété].

The freedom of enterprise is guaranteed within the framework of the laws and regulations in force.

All citizens have the right to freely constitute associations, groups, societies and political parties in accordance with the texts in force.

The associations, the groups, the societies and the political parties of which the activities are contrary to the public order as well as to the unity and to the cohesion of the Central African People[,] are prohibited.

The freedom to inform, to express and to disseminate one's opinions by speech, the pen and the image and any other means of communication under reserve of respect for the rights of others, is guaranteed individually and collectively.

The freedom of the press is recognized and guaranteed. It is exercised within the conditions established by the law.

The exercise of this freedom and the equal access for all to the media of the State are assured by an independent organ, endowed with the power of regulation and of decision[,] the status of which is established by the law.

The State guarantees the freedom of peaceful demonstration.

The secrecy of correspondence as well as that of postal, electronic, telegraphic and telephonic communications[,] are inviolable.

Restrictions on the above provisions may only be ordered in application of a law.

The freedom of intellectual, artistic and cultural creation is recognized and guaranteed. It is exercised within the conditions established by the law.

Any physical or juridical [morale] person has the right to property.

No one may be deprived of his property, except for cause of public utility legally declared and under the condition of a just and prior indemnification.

The right to property may not be exercised contrarily to public utility, social [utility], or in a manner to prejudice the security, the freedom, the existence or the property of others.

The domicile is inviolable. It may only be infringed by a decision of justice and, if there is a danger in the dwelling, by the other authorities designated by the law, responsible for its execution in the forms prescribed by it.

The measures infringing the inviolability of the domicile or restricting it will be taken to guard against a public danger or to protect persons in peril.

These measures may be taken in application of the law to protect the public order against imminent threats, notably to combat the risks of epidemic, of fire or to protect persons in danger.

The property and the assets of persons as well as the patrimony of the Nation are inviolable. The State and Territorial Collectivities as well as all citizens must protect them.

All citizens are equal concerning [devant] public responsibilities [charges] and in particular concerning taxes [impôt] that only the law may, within the conditions provided for by this Constitution, create and assess. They support, in all solidarity, the responsibilities resulting from natural calamities or [from] endemic, epidemic or incurable diseases.

An individual [who is a] victim of violation of the provisions of Articles 1 to 20 of this Title has the right to reparation.

The defense of the Fatherland and is a duty for every citizen.

Military or civil service is obligatory and is exercised within the conditions established by the law.

Any person living in the national territory has the duty to respect, in all circumstances, the Constitution, the laws and regulations of the Republic.

The form of the State is the Republic.

The Central African State has for its name: République Centrafricaine [Central African Republic].

The Central African Republic is a State of law, unitary, sovereign, indivisible, secular and democratic. It recognizes and protects the traditional values in accordance with the law and the Customary Authorities.

Its capital is Bangui. It can only be transferred by virtue of a law, when the superior interest of the Nation requires it.

Its national language is Sango.

Its official languages are Sango and French.

Its emblem is the flag of five (5) colors having four (4) horizontal bands of equal width of blue, white, green and yellow color, crossed perpendicularly in their middle [milieu], by a band of equal width of red color and struck in the superior left quadrant by a star of five (5) points of yellow color.

Its motto is: Unité - Dignité - Travail [Unity - Dignity - Work].

Its anthem is La Renaissance.

Its National Day is established as 1st December, the date of the proclamation of the Republic.

Its currency is defined by the law.

The Seal of the State and the Coat-of-Arms of the Republic are defined by the law.

The principles of the Republic are:

• government of the People, by the People and for the People;
  Separation of church and state

  the separation of the State and of Religion;

  national unity;

  social peace;

  social justice;

  Reference to fraternity/solidarity

  national solidarity;

  good governance;

  social and economic development.

National sovereignty belongs to the people who exercise it by way [voie] of referendum or by the intermediary of their representatives.

No part [fraction] of the people nor any individual may arrogate its exercise, or alienate it.

The eligible institutions, responsible for [chargées de] directing the State, have their power from the people by way of [par voie d'] elections, by direct or indirect universal suffrage

The Forces of Defense and of Security are at the service of the Nation.

They are composed exclusively of Central African citizens.

They are professional, multi-ethnic, republican and non-partisan.

The Forces of Defense have as their mission to guarantee the integrity of the territory, as well as the security of the populations, against any foreign, or internal aggression or menace; within respect for the constitutional provisions and the Laws.

The National Forces of Security have as their mission to defend the authority of the law and to guarantee the security of the persons and of the assets.

The Statutes [Statuts] of the Forces of Defense and of Security are incompatible with political status [statut].

The organic laws determine the respective organization and the functioning of the Forces of Defense and of Security

The usurpation of sovereignty by coup d'état, rebellion, mutiny or any other non-democratic process [procédé] constitutes an imprescriptible crime against the Central African People. Any person or any third estate [Etat tiers] performing such acts will have declared war on the Central African People.

Any physical or juridical person that organizes actions of support, diffuses or have diffuse declarations to support a coup d'état, a rebellion or an attempted to take the power by mutiny or by any other means, is considered as co-author.

The authors, co-authors and accomplices of the acts referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 are interdicted from all public functions in the Institutions of the State.

In the case of a coup d'état, of aggression by a third State or by mercenaries, the authorities enabled by the Constitution have the right and the duty of recourse to all means to reestablish constitutional legitimacy, including the recourse to the Agreements of military cooperation or defense [cooperation] in force.

In these circumstances, every citizen or group of citizens has the right and the duty to organize themselves in a peaceful manner, to defeat [faire échec] the illegitimate authority.

Central Africans of the two (2) sexes, aged eighteen (18) years of age and enjoying their civil rights, are electors within the conditions determined by the law.

The vote is a civic duty.

Suffrage may be direct or indirect within the conditions specified by the Constitution. It is always universal, equal and secret.

The political parties or groups concur in the expression of suffrage, [and] to the animation of the political, economic and social life.

They freely form and exercise their activities. They are required to promote and to respect the principles of democracy, of unity and of national sovereignty, of the Rights of Man, of the secularity and the republican form of the State, in accordance with the laws and regulations in force.

It is prohibited to them to identify themselves with a race, an ethnicity, a gender, a religion, a sect, a language, a region or an armed group.

The political parties must respect the principles of representation of gender and of regions specified by the law.

A law determines the conditions of their formation, of their functioning, of their funding [financement] of their control and of their dissolution.

The Executive Power is composed of the President of the Republic and of the Government.

The President of the Republic is the Head of the Executive.

The Prime Minister is the Head of Government.

The Legislative Power is exercised by a Parliament that includes two (2) Chambers:

• the National Assembly;

  the Senate.

The Parliament legislates and controls the action of the Government.

The Chambers of the Parliament meet on the same dates:

• in ordinary sessions, at the convocation of the Bureaus of the National Assembly and of the Senate after consultation with the President of the Republic;
  Extraordinary legislative sessions

  in extraordinary sessions, at the demand of the President of the Republic or of the third of the members composing one or the other Chamber.

However, the two Chambers are only convoked simultaneously if the matters brought to the agenda concern both [l'une et l'autre].

The two Chambers of the Parliament may meet in congress, at the demand of the President of the Republic to:

• hear a communication or receive a message from the President of the Republic;

  decide on a bill or a proposal of constitutional revision.

When the Parliament meets in congress, the Bureau of the National Assembly presides over the debates.

Within the thirty (30) days that follow the installation of the Parliament, the Deputy and the Senator make, each in [regard] to what concerns him, a written declaration of [their] patrimony, deposited at the Office of the Constitutional Court which renders it public within eight (8) working days.

Within the thirty (30) days that precede the ceasing of their functions, the Deputy and the Senator renew, each in [regard] to what concerns him, the declaration of their patrimonies within the conditions specified in the paragraph above.

The members of the Parliament enjoy parliamentary immunity. Consequently, no Parliamentarian may be prosecuted, investigated or arrested, detained or judged on the occasion of the opinions or votes emitted by them in the exercise of their functions.

During the sessions, a Parliamentarian may only be prosecuted or arrested in a correctional matter, with the authorization of the National Assembly or of the Senate[,] granted by vote by secret ballot[,] with the absolute majority of the members who compose the Chamber concerned.

Out of session, a Parliamentarian may only be prosecuted or arrested with the authorization of the Bureau of the National Assembly or of the Bureau of the Senate. This authorization may be suspended if the National Assembly or the Senate so decides with the absolute majority.

The Parliamentarian caught in fragrante delicto or in flight[,] after the commission of criminal acts or misdemeanors, can be prosecuted and arrested without the authorization of the National Assembly, of the Senate or of their Bureaus.

The prosecution of a Parliamentarian is suspended until the end of his mandate, except in cases of the lifting of parliamentary immunity, if the Chamber concerned requires it by vote with the absolute majority of the members who compose it.

The Parliamentarian who is made the object of a definitive criminal conviction is removed [radié] from the list of Parliamentarians within the conditions established by the organic law relative to each Chamber.

A law determines the number of Deputies and Senators, the electoral regime of the national Assembly and of the Senate as well as the regime of the immunities, of the ineligibilities, of the incompatibilities, of the pensions, of the indemnities, of the conditions of their replacement in case of vacancy of seat and of the privileges of the members of the Parliament.

The President of the Republic negotiates, signs, ratifies and revokes [dénonce] the international treaties and agreements.

The ratification or the revocation may only intervene after the authorization of the Parliament, notably in that which concerns the peace treaties, the defense treaties, the commercial treaties, the treaties concerning the environment and the natural resources or agreements concerning international organization, those which engage the finances of the State, those which modify the provisions of a legislative nature, those which concern the status of persons and the rights of Man, [and] those which involve cession, exchange or addition of territory.

No cession, no exchange [or] no addition of territory is valid without the consent of the Central African People called to decide on it by means [voie] of referendum.

The law determines the International Agreements [that] dispense with the procedure of ratification.

The President of the Republic and the Parliament are informed of any negotiations tending to the conclusion of an international agreement not submitted to ratification.

The President of the Republic can, after [a] referendum, conclude with any African State agreements of association or merger [fusion] involving partial or total abandonment of sovereignty in order to realize African Unity.

He can create with all States intergovernmental organs [organismes] of common [commune] management, of coordination and of free cooperation.

If the Constitutional Court[,] referred to [the matter] by the President of the Republic, by the President of the National Assembly, by the President of the Senate or by one-third (1/3) of the Deputies, has declared that a international commitment includes a clause contrary to the Constitution, the authorization to ratify or to approve the international commitment in question can only intervene after the revision of the Constitution.

The Agreements or Treaties regularly ratified or approved have, on their publication, an authority superior to that of the laws, under reserve, for each agreement or treaty, of its application by the other party.

The Constitutional Court is the highest jurisdiction of the State in constitutional matters. It is given the charge:

• Constitutionality of legislation, Constitutional interpretation
  to judge the constitutionality of the organic and ordinary laws, already promulgated or simply voted, of the regulations as well as of the Internal Regulations of the National Assembly and of the Senate;

  to take cognizance of electoral disputes;

  to see to the regularity of the electoral consultations, [and] to examine and to proclaim the definitive results;

  Referenda

  to see to the regularity of the operations of [the] referendum, to examine the complaints and to proclaim the definitive results;

  to receive the oath of the President of the Republic elected;

  to determine the conflicts of competence within the executive power, between the legislative and executive powers and between the State and the territorial collectivities;

  to declare the errors [constater des défauts] of promulgation of the laws definitively voted and the lack of their promulgation in order to permit their entry into force;

  Constitutional interpretation

  to interpret the Constitution;

  Constitution amendment procedure

  to give its opinion concerning the bills or proposals of constitutional revision and the procedure of [the] referendum;

  to receive the declarations of patrimony.

The Constitutional Court, at the demand of the President of the Republic, of the President of the National Assembly, of the President of the Senate, of the Prime Minister or of one-quarter (1/4) of the members of each Chamber of the Parliament, decides concerning the constitutionality of the laws before their promulgation.

The President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate, the Prime Minister or one-quarter (1/4) of the members of each Chamber of the Parliament may refer a request for [its] opinion to the Constitutional Court.

Any person can refer the Constitutional Court to [a matter] on the constitutionality of the laws, either directly, or by the procedure of the pleadings [exception] of unconstitutionality invoked before a jurisdiction in a matter which concerns them.

The Constitutional Court is required to decide within a time period of one month. In the case of urgency, this period is reduced to eight (8) days.

When a pleadings of unconstitutionality is raised by a party [justiciable] before a jurisdiction, whatever that [jurisdiction] might be, it is required to suspend its decision and refer [the matter] to the Constitutional Court which must decide on the constitutionality of the text in dispute [litige] within a time period of one month counting from its referral to [the matter] by the jurisdiction concerned.

The Constitutional Court consists of nine (9) members including at least four (4) women, who hold the title of Constitutional Judge.

The duration of the mandate of the Constitutional Judges is of seven (7) years, non-renewable.

The members of the Constitutional Court are designated as follows:

• two (2) Magistrates including one women, elected by their peers;

  two (2) Attorney including one woman, elected by their peers;

  two (2) [members] of a Faculty of Law [enseignants-chercheurs de Droit] including one woman, elected by their peers;

  one (1) member appointed by the President of the Republic;

  one (1) member appointed by the President of the National Assembly;

  one (1) member appointed by the President of the Senate.

They elect, from among themselves, a President from among the jurist members and a Vice President.

The election is confirmed [entérinée] by Decree of the President of the Republic.

The Constitutional Judges must have at least ten (10) years of professional experience.

The nine (9) members of the Constitutional Court are renewed in full.

However, in case of death, of resignation or of definitive incapacity of a member, the replacement is provided for following the procedure of designation provided for to this effect. The new member completes [achve] the mandate of their predecessor.

When making a decision, and in case of a tie, that of the President is preponderant.

The members of the Constitutional Court are irremovable for the duration of their mandate. They cannot be prosecuted or arrested without the authorization of the Constitutional Court.

They take an oath before entering into their functions.

The functions of a member of the Constitutional Court are incompatible with any political function, administrative [function], or [function] within a political party, any lucrative activity, of any function of professional representation or of any salaried employment, with the exception of teaching and of the exercise of medicine.

Before they enter into [their] functions, the members of the Constitutional Court make, each in that which concerns them, a written statement of [their] patrimony, deposited at the Office of the Constitutional Court, which renders them public within eight (8) working days.

Within the thirty (30) days that precede the cessation of their functions, the Constitutional Judges renew, each in that which concerns him, the written declaration of their patrimony within the conditions specified in the paragraph above.

The bills or proposals of constitutional law are referred for [its] opinion to the Constitutional Court by the President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly or the President of the Senate before being submitted to vote of the Parliament or to referendum.

The decisions of the Constitutional Court are not susceptible to any recourse. They impose themselves on the public powers, on all the administrative and jurisdictional authorities, and on all physical or juridical persons.

Any text declared unconstitutional is null and of no effect; it may neither be promulgated nor applied. If it is in force, it is removed from the juridical order [ordonnancement].

An organic law determines the rules of organization and of functioning of the Constitutional Court.

Justice constitutes a Power Independent of the Legislature Power and of the Executive Power.

Justice is rendered on the territory of the Central African Republic in the name of the Central African People by the Court of Cassation, the Council of State, the Court of Accounts, the Tribunal of Conflicts, [and] the Courts and Tribunals.

The judges are independent. They are only subject, in the exercise of their functions, to the authority of the law. The presiding magistrates are irremovable.

The laws determine the status [statut] of the judges.

The President of the Republic is the guarantor of the independence of the Judicial Power.

The Superior Council of Magistrature, the Consultative Commission of the Council of State and the Conference of Presidents and of the Procurator General of the Court of Accounts, see to the administration [gestion] of the career of the Magistrates and to the independence of the Magistrature.

The organization and the functioning of the Superior Council of the Magistrature, of the Consultative Commission of the Council of State and of the Conference of Presidents and of the Procurator General of the Court of Accounts are established by organic laws.

The Judicial Power, guardian of the freedoms and of property, is held to assure respect for the principles consecrated as the fundamental bases of society by this Constitution.

A non-permanent jurisdiction denominated the High Court Justice is instituted.

It is composed of six (6) magistrates and three (3) Deputies and three (3) Senators elected by secret ballot by their peers. The President of the High Court of Justice is elected by the magistrates, the Vice President from among the Parliamentarians, within the same conditions as specified above.

At the demand of the Procurator General, of the National Assembly or of the Senate by half (1/2) of the members who compose them, the President of the Republic refers to the High Court of Justice the Ministers, the Deputies and the Senators susceptible to be prosecuted for high treason.

The decision of impeachment, duly substantiated, is taken by the President of the Republic[,] who transmits it to the Procurator General at the High Court of Justice.

The President of the Republic is only responsible for acts accomplished in the exercise of his functions in the case of high treason.

[The following] are notably considered as crimes of high treason:

• the violation of the oath [of office];

  the political homicides;

  racketeering [l'affairisme];

  the constitution or maintenance of [a] militia;

  the refusal to endow the forces of defense and of security of the means necessary for the accomplishment of their mission;

  the violation of Article 23 above;

  the non-establishment of the institutions of the Republic within the constitutional time period;

  any action contrary to the superior interests of the Nation.

The demand for impeachment is only receivable if it obtains the signatures of fifty percent (50%) of the Deputies who compose the National Assembly.

The President may only be impeached by the National Assembly if the secret ballot collects two-thirds (2/3) [of the votes] of the Deputies.

The resolution of impeachment, duly substantiated, is transmitted by the President of the National Assembly to the Procurator General at the High Court of Justice.

However, for the infractions of common law committed before his election or outside of the exercise of his functions, the President of the Republic may only be the object of prosecution, before the competent jurisdictions, at the end of his mandate.

In this case, the period of prescription [délai de prescription] of the public action is suspended.

During the taking of the decision of the High Court of Justice, and in case of a tie [vote], that of the President is preponderant.

The decisions rendered by the High Court of Justice are not susceptible to any recourse.

An organic law determines the regulations of organization and of functioning of the High Court of Justice.

The Central African Republic is organized in Territorial Collectivities on the basis of the principle of decentralization within respect for national unity.

The Central African State sees to the harmonious development of all the Territorial Collectivities on the basis of national solidarity, of regional potentials and of interregional equilibrium.

The Territorial Collectivities of the Central African Republic are the regions and the communes.

Any other category of Territorial Collectivity may only be created and modified by the law.

The Territorial Collectivities administer themselves freely by elected organs and are provided with a regulatory power for the exercise of their competences.

In the Territorial Collectivities of the Republic, the representative of the State is the representative of each of the members of the Government. They are responsible for the national interests, for administrative control and for respect for the laws.

However, that which arises within the domain of the Judicial Power eludes [échappe] all delegation of power.

An organic law determines the modalities of application of this provision.

The Economic and Social Council is a consultative Assembly in economic, social, cultural and environmental matters.

The members of the Economic and Social Council have the title of Councilor.

The Economic and Social Council is obligatorily consulted on any plan or any bill of law of program of action with economic, social, cultural and environmental character.

On its own initiative, the Economic and Social Council can formulate recommendations or call [appeler] the attention of the Government, of the National Assembly or of the Senate to reforms that it identifies [as] appropriate on the questions relevant to its competence.

The Economic and Social Council gives its opinion on all proposals and all bills of law, of ordinances and of decrees as well as on all measures necessary for economic, social, cultural and environmental development of the Republic, which are submitted to it.

It may be given the charge of any study of economic, social, cultural and environmental order.

It sees to the harmonious development and equilibrium of all the regions of the Republic.

Before the entry into [their] functions, the members of the Economic and Social Council make, each in [regard] to what concerns him, a written declaration of [their] patrimony, deposited at the Office of the Constitutional Court, which renders it public within eight (8) working days.

Within the thirty (30) days preceding the cessation of their functions, the members of the Economic and Social Council renew, each in [regard] to what concerns him, the written declaration of their patrimony within the conditions specified in the paragraph above.

An organic law determines the organization, the functioning, [and] the mode of designation of the members of the Economic and Social Council, as well as the duration of their functions.

The National Council of Mediation [Conseil Nationale de la Médiation] is a permanent organ directed by an independent person, the Mediator of the Republic.

The National Council of Mediation has for its mission the amelioration of relations between the citizens and the Administration, with a view to protect and to promote the rights of citizens.

The National Council of Mediation is endowed with extensive powers to receive the complaints of citizens and to propose solutions in the matters of prevention, of administration [gestion] and of resolution of conflicts.

Before the entry into [their] functions, the members of National Council of Mediation make, [each] in [regard] to what concerns him, a written declaration of [their] patrimony, deposited at the Office of the Constitutional Court, which renders it public within eight (8) working days.

Within the thirty (30) days preceding the cessation of their functions, the members of the National Council of Mediation renew, each in [regard] to what concerns him, the written declaration of their patrimony within the conditions specified in the paragraph above.

An organic law determines the composition, the organization and the functioning of the National Council of Mediation.

The High Council of Communication is independent of any political power, of any political party, of any association or of any pressure group.

The High Council of Communication is given the charge to assure the exercise of the freedom of expression and the equal access for all to the media, within respect for the laws in force.

The High Council of Communication is endowed with powers of regulation and of decision.

The High Council of Communication consists of nine (9) members including at least four (4) women.

The members of the High Council of Communication are designated from among the persons [of distinction] [personnalités] having at least ten (10) years of professional experience in the domains of journalism, of the arts and of culture, of communications, of law [droit] as well as of new technologies of information and of communication.

Their designation is confirmed by decree of the President of the Republic countersigned by the Prime Minister.

The duration of the mandate of the members of the High Council of Communication is of seven (7) years non-renewable.

The members of the High Council of Communication elect from within a President among the professional members of the media or of communications, and a Vice President.

The functions of member of the High Council of Communication are incompatible with the exercise of any political function, administrative [function], or [function] within a political party, of any lucrative activity, of any function of professional representation or of any salaried employment, with the exception of teaching and of the exercise of medicine.

Before the entry into [their] functions, the members of the High Council of Communication make, [each] in [regard] to what concerns him, a written declaration of [their] patrimony, deposited at the Office of the Constitutional Court, which renders it public within eight (8) working days.

Within the thirty (30) days preceding the cessation of their functions, the members of the National Council of Mediation renew, each in [regard] to what concerns him, the written declaration of their patrimony within the conditions specified in the paragraph above.

An organic law determines the composition, the organization and the functioning of the High Council of Communication and the immunity of its members.

A National Authority of Elections [Autorité Nationale des Elections], abbreviated A.N.E.[,] is instituted.

The National Authority of Elections is a perennial, independent and autonomous organ.

The A.N.E. is competent in the matters of general consultations and elections.

Before the entry into [their] functions, the members of the National Authority of Elections make, [each] in [regard] to what concerns him, a written declaration of [their] patrimony, deposited at the Office of the Constitutional Court, which renders it public within eight (8) working days.

Within the thirty (30) days preceding the cessation of their functions, the members of the National Authority of Elections renew, each in [regard] to what concerns him, the written declaration of their patrimony within the conditions specified in the paragraph above.

An organic law determines the composition, the organization and the functioning of the National Authority of Elections.

A High Authority responsible for Good Governance [Haute Autorité chargée de la Bonne Gouvernance] is instituted.

The High Authority responsible for Good Governance is an institution independent of any political power, of any political party, of any association or of any pressure group.

It sees to the equitable representation of all the regions of the Central African Republic within the public and parastatal [parapublic] institutions

It sees to proscribing any familial, clanish, patrimonial and partisan administration [gestion] of the public affairs [chose].

It sees equally to the protection of the rights of minorities, of the autochthonous peoples, of handicapped persons as well as of the principle of equality between men and women.

The High Authority assures the protection of the national patrimony and transparency in the exploitation and the administration of natural resources.

It sees to the equitable redistribution of the profits generated by natural resources.

It may call the attention of the public powers in the domains arising within its competence and make appropriate proposals.

Before the entry into [their] functions, the members of the High Authority responsible for Good Governance make, each in [regard] to what concerns him, a written declaration of [their] patrimony, deposited at the Office of the Constitutional Court, which renders it public within eight (8) working days.

Within the thirty (30) days preceding the cessation of their functions, the members of the High Authority responsible for Good Governance renew, each in [regard] to what concerns him, the written declaration of their patrimony within the conditions specified in the paragraph above.

An organic law determines the composition, the organization and the functioning of the High Authority responsible for Good Governance.

The initiative of revision of the Constitution belongs concurrently to the President of the Republic and to the Parliament deciding with the majority of two-thirds (2/3) of the members who compose each Chamber.

The revision intervenes when the bill presented in complete form [a l'état] has been voted by the Parliament meeting in Congress with a majority of three-quarters (3/4) of the members who compose it or has been adopted by referendum.

No procedure of revision can be initiated or followed in the case of the vacancy of the Presidency of the Republic or when it infringes the unity and the integrity of the territory.

Expressly excluded from revision are:

• the republican and secular form of the State;

  the number and duration of the presidential mandates;

  the conditions of eligibility;

  the incompatibilities to the functions of President of the Republic;

  the fundamental rights of the citizen;

  the provisions of this Article.

The Head of the State of the Transition remains in place until the effective taking of [his] function by the President of the Republic, Head of the State democratically elected.

The Prime Minister, Head of the Government of Transition remains in place until the appointment of his successor by the President democratically elected.

The National Council of the Transition remains in place until the effective installation of the elected National Assembly.

The Constitutional Court of the Transition remains in place until the effective installation of the Constitutional Court deriving [issue] from this Constitution.

The High Council of Communication of the Transition remains in place until the effective installation of the High Council of Communication deriving from this Constitution.

The institutions provided for by this Constitution will be put in place within the twelve (12) months that follow the date of the investiture of the President of the Republic elected[,] with the exemption of the Senate which will be established after the municipal and regional elections.

While awaiting the establishment of the Senate, the National Assembly exercises the totality of the Legislative Power.

The legislation resulting from the laws and regulations applicable in the Central African State at the date of the coming into force of this Constitution, remains in force in their provisions that are not contrary to the stipulations of this [Constitution], as long as they have not been modified by [the] legislative or regulatory way [voie].

The provisions of Article 35 of this Constitution apply to the mandate of the President of the Republic elected under the authority of the Constitutional Charter of Transition of 18 July 2013. He begins in this way the first of the two (2) consecutive mandates specified by Article 35 above.

This Constitution is adopted by the People through referendum and promulgated by the Head of the State of the Transition on the day of the investiture of the President of the Republic, Head of the State, democratically elected.

It will be published in the Journal Officiel [Official Gazette] and executed as the Constitution of the Central African Republic.