A ministerial decree quietly issued in February 2025 by the Central African Republic's education ministry — granting baccalaureate certificates to dozens of citizens claiming to have lost their diplomas — has sparked a fierce public controversy after resurfacing on social media this week. Critics, including civil society groups, argue the measure was timed to benefit unqualified candidates ahead of legislative elections, since the country's new constitution requires all parliamentary candidates to hold a baccalaureate. Education Minister Aurélien Simplice Zingas has rejected the allegations as disinformation, saying the practice of replacing records lost during past conflicts dates back to 2006; the matter is now before an administrative tribunal, which is expected to rule shortly on whether the decree should be annulled.