Despite François Bozize’s request to postpone the elections in the Central African Republic (CAR), they are still being held on 27 December as planned.
The arm wrestling François Bozize-Faustin Archange Touadera is leaning towards the latter. The elections finally took place despite the threat of armed groups to enter the capital Bangui and seize power. The Central Africans must elect their president and 140 deputies.
The outgoing president and candidate for his own succession, Faustin Archange Touadera went to Boganda High School to fulfil his civic duty in safety. “I thank President Paul Kagame, the Rwandan government, the Rwandan people for their support in securing this process,” Touadera said as he left the polling station.
The sole female presidential candidate, Catherine Samba Panza, also voted in her constituency of the 7th district. “This is a great day that is part of the long struggle for democratization and return to constitutional order,” she said.
The population has been strongly mobilized despite the calls of François Bozize to boycott the elections. He was dissatisfied because his candidacy was rejected. Armed groups tried to intimidate the population. On the arrival of MINUSCA patrols, they flew into the wilderness. At 3,523 voter card distribution centers, corresponding to polling stations, 3,285 or 93.24% continued to distribute cards to readers on election day.
The strength of the United Nations Integrated Multidimensional Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) was reinforced by 300 additional soldiers of Rwandan peacekeepers from Southern Sudan. Other troops were deployed by Russia and Rwanda in the framework of bilateral cooperation. French fighter planes were also sent to CAR to secure the elections in the country, which has long suffered from insecurity caused by armed groups.
Gérard Rugambwa
