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BFF-09
CAFRICA-VOTE-UNREST
Troubled C.Africa goes to the polls
BANGUI, Central African Republic, Dec 27, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Voting was
poised to start in presidential and legislative elections in the Central
African Republic on Sunday, in a key test for one of the world’s most
troubled nations.
The poll takes place after a week of turbulence, marked by accusations of
an attempted coup, the brief seizure of the CAR’s fourth-largest town and the
dispatch of military personnel by Russia and Rwanda to help its beleaguered
government.
The frontrunner for the presidency is Faustin Archange Touadera, who was
elected in 2016.
Thousands of people have died since a civil war erupted in 2013 and more
than a quarter of the population of 4.9 million have fled their homes. Of
these, 675,000 are refugees in neighbouring countries and cannot vote.
Even though bloodshed has receded in intensity over the last two years,
violence remains chronic. Militia groups hold sway over two-thirds of the
territory, spurring fears about intimidation that could also affect turnout.
On December 19, the government accused armed groups of banding together
and advancing on the capital Bangui in a plot allegedly fomented by ousted
former president Francois Bozize, a charge he denies.
Fears about the rebels swept the city in the following days, although the
UN peacekeeping force MINUSCA said their advance had been stopped.
“There are security risks surrounding the elections, but I will go and
cast my ballot,” 29-year-old Lionel Fotot said on Thursday, as he went to get
his voter’s registration card at a school in Bangui.
– ‘How do we vote?’ –
Others were less optimistic, however, with sporadic fighting potentially
undermining the vote. “Everyone is fleeing at the moment. I’m holed up at
home,” Robert, from Boali, 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of Bangui told AFP
by phone, explosions audible in the background.
“How do we vote when we don’t even have our voter cards,” he added.
The rebel coalition on Wednesday announced a 72-hour “unilateral
ceasefire” in the runup to the vote, only to call it off on Friday.
In a statement authenticated by two of its six members, the coalition said
that it would resume its march on the capital.
On Tuesday, the CAR’s fourth-largest town, Bambari, 380 km northeast of
Bangui, was overrun by an armed group called the Unity for Peace in Central
Africa (UPC).
Security forces backed by UN peacekeepers regained control the following
day.
Sixteen candidates are vying for the presidency.
Touadera’s main rival is Anicet Georges Dologuele, an economist and former
prime minister.
He is being backed by Bozize after his own bid was barred by the CAR’s top
court for being on a 2014 wanted list and under UN sanctions.
A runoff vote will be held on February 14 if there is no overall majority
in the first round.
Around 1,500 candidates are contesting the 140 seats in the national
assembly, but many have been unable to campaign because of insecurity.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1111 hrs