In an address to the nation on Tuesday, President Touadera said he had consulted the Speaker of the National Assembly and the president of the constitutional court before announcing the plan for a referendum.

Mr Touadera said he had decided “to submit this project for a new constitution to a referendum".

He said the current constitution "contains provisions that could compromise [CAR’s] development", but added that he was committed to allowing a political transition.

Plans for the scrapping of the term limits have been on since last year and opposition parties have argued that the reform would favour Mr Touadera, allowing him to run for a third term.

Mr Touadera was elected as president in 2016 as the country was emerging from a civil war that followed the overthrow of former President Francois Bozize in 2013.

He was re-elected in 2020, despite widespread accusations of electoral flaws.