government: presidential republic

state of civil and political rights: Partly free

constitution: adopted 27 September 1992, effective 14 October 1992; amended 2002, 2007, last in 2019 when the National Assembly unanimously approved a package of amendments, including setting presidential term limits of two 5-year mandates

legal system: customary law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

legislative system: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

judicial system: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into criminal and administrative chambers, each with a chamber president and advisors); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, including the court president); Court of Assizes (sessions court); Appeal Court; tribunals of first instance (divided into civil, commercial, and correctional chambers; Court of State Security; military tribunal

religion: Christian 42.3%, folk religion 36.9%, Muslim 14%, Hindu <1%, Buddhist <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, none 6.2% (2020 est.)

death row:

year of last executions: 0-0-0

death sentences: 0

executions: 0