government: presidential republic

state of civil and political rights: Partly free

constitution: 8 November 2016; amended 2020

legal system: civil law system based on the French civil code; judicial review of legislation held in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

legislative system: bicameral Parliament consists of Senate (Senat) and National Assembly

judicial system: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Judicial, Audit, Constitutional, and Administrative Chambers; consists of the court president, 3 vice presidents for the Judicial, Audit, and Administrative chambers, and 9 associate justices or magistrates); Courts of Appeal (organized into civil, criminal, and social chambers); first instance courts; peace courts

religion: Muslim 42.9%, Catholic 17.2%, Evangelical 11.8%, Methodist 1.7%, other Christian 3.2%, animist 3.6%, other religion 0.5%, none 19.1% (2014 est.)

death row:

year of last executions: 0-0-0

death sentences: 0

executions: 0