Danièle Darlan

Danièle Darlan (born 1952)[1] is a Central African lawyer, professor and jurist who served as President of the country's Constitutional Court from 2017 to 2022. Her appointment was abruptly revoked by President Faustin-Archange Touadéra by a presidential decree in October 2022, with Jean-Pierre Waboe temporarily assuming her role on 28 October 2022.[2]

Daniele Darlan 2023

Early life and education

Darlan's father Georges Darlan was the president of the Representative Council of Ubangi-Shari from 1949 to 1952.[1] She obtained a doctorate in law in France.[3]

Career

Darlan was professor of public at the University of Bangui for thirty years,[1] in a country where there are very few women professors, and low numbers of girls completing higher education. She has said, "I feel like it is a personal failure. Maybe I inspired someone outside the university; maybe I was more an example for boys than girls."[3]

Darlan served as vice-president of the Constitutional Court from 2013, before being elected president in 2017. She is the first woman in the role.[3] In June 2020, she refused to give approval to revisions of the Constitution proposed by the National Assembly and supported by President Touadéra, which would have allowed him to stay in power and delay the electoral process.[1]

It was Darlan's role to declare the outcome of the controversial 2020–2021 election,[3] declaring Touadéra's victory and rejecting a suit filed by 13 of the 16 other candidates arguing there had been "massive fraud".[4] She said the court had "not received any pressure, either from the president, or from the special representative of the UN secretary general, or from any embassy."[4][5]

In October 2022, Darlan was removed from her position by Touadéra, citing her age. On 3 January 2023, the Constitutional Court ruled that Touadéra's decision had been unconstitutional; Darlan ultimately did not resume her role, having announced during the interim period that she would not return to the court.[6][7]

Recognition

In March 2023, Darlan was one of the recipients of that year's International Women of Courage Awards, presented by the United States Department of State in recognition of her tenure on the Central African Constitutional Court.[8]

Selected publications
  • Darlan, Danièle (2018). L'évolution constitutionnelle et juridictionnelle de la République centrafricaine à travers les textes (in French). L'Harmattan. ISBN 9782140096358.
  • Darlan, Danièle (2019). "Transitional elections in the Central African Republic, 2013– 2016". In Sead Alihodžić; Nicholas Matatu; Alexandre Raffoul (eds.). Timing and Sequencing of Transitional Elections: Case Studies (PDF). International IDEA. pp. 32–40.

References
  1. Pabandji, Pacôme (25 December 2020). "Centrafrique : Danièle Darlan, une « dame de fer » à la tête de la Cour constitutionnelle". Jeune Afrique (in French). Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  2. "Ousted head of Central African Republic's top court cries foul". Reuters. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  3. "Constitutional Court President Danièle Darlan – 'A difficult and delicate mandate'". United Nations Peacekeeping. 26 December 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  4. "Central African Republic court confirms Touadera's re-election as president". TRT World. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  5. "Central African Republic top court confirms Touadera election win". Africanews. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  6. Mudge, Lewis (13 March 2023). "Well Deserved Recognition for Central African Judge". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  7. "Invité Afrique - Centrafrique: en exclusivité sur RFI, Danièle Darlan annonce qu'elle tourne la page". RFI (in French). 31 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  8. Powell, Anita (8 March 2023). "White House Hosts International Women of Courage Awards". VOA. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
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