TITLE XII. OF THE LOCAL COLLECTIVITIES
Article 269
The commune as well as other local collectivities of the Republic are created by organic law.
The law determines the fundamental principles of their status, organization, jurisdiction, and resources, as well as the conditions in which these local collectivities are managed.
Article 270
The commune is a decentralized administrative entity. It is subdivided into entities defined by an organic law.
Article 271
The commune is managed by the Communal Administrator under the supervision and the control of the Communal Council.
Article 272
The elections at the communal level are held according to the procedures listed below:
- The collines are managed by the Councils of the collines, which consist of five members elected by direct universal suffrage. The council member receiving the greatest number of votes becomes the Head of the colline. The candidates must present themselves as independents;
- The quarters are managed by Councils of the quarters, which consist of five members elected by direct universal suffrage. The council member receiving the greatest number of votes becomes the Head of the quarter. The candidates must present themselves as independents;
- The Communal Council Members are elected by direct universal suffrage.
Article 273
The Independent National Electoral Commission ensures that the Communal Councils reflect in a general manner the ethnic diversity of their electorate. In the case where the composition of a Communal Council does not reflect this ethnic diversity, the Independent National Electoral Commission may order the council to co opt persons originating from an underrepresented ethnic group, on the condition that the persons thus co-opted do not constitute more than one-fifth of the members of the Council. The persons to be co-opted are selected by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Each Communal Council elects within it a Communal Administrator and may remove him from his duties for a valid reason, such as corruption, incompetence, grave fault or misappropriation of funds. The National Assembly and the Senate may, after evaluation, legislate so that the Administrator should be elected by direct universal suffrage.
None of the ethnic groups can be represented by more than 67% of the Communal Administrators at the national level. The Independent National Electoral Commission assures that this principle is respected.
Article 274
The State sees to the harmonious and balanced development of all the communes of the country on the basis of the national solidarity.
