AU satisfied with recent elections in CAR

The AU mission aimed to mediate between opposing parties and observe the partial legislative elections.

CAPE TOWN, March 17 (ANA) – The African Union (AU) mission said it was satisfied with the conduct of the recent parliamentary elections in the conflict-ridden Central African Republic (CAR), Congolese media service Africanews reported on Wednesday.

The mission, led by former Malian prime minister Modibo Sidibe, arrived in the CAR a few days ago with the dual objective of mediating between the government and armed groups and observing the partial legislative elections, including run-offs that are under way in the country.

According to Africanews, talks were tough between the mission and the two opposing parties, so much so that the mission was unable to visit the entire country.

“We have concluded from the discussions we had that there must be a dialogue, the framework for consultation as we have raised it must be implemented,” said Sidibe.

“Whatever military efforts we can make, whatever security operations we undertake, everyone knows that the continuation, the duration is the political solution, so we must try to build it collectively, together, but not unilaterally.”

Samuel Thierry NZAM, Africanews correspondent, however, noted that the security situation was a cause for concern in the CAR.

“The African Union mission stayed in the Central African Republic for two weeks and was able to observe the legislative elections in four of the 20 prefectures that make up the Central African Republic today. It can be noted that the security climate is still very worrying.”

The Central African nation held its second round of parliamentary elections amid heavy security on Sunday.

There were no attacks reported as the UN Security Council increased the strength of its peacekeeping mission in the CAR (MINUSCA) by 2,750 soldiers and 940 police officers in order to prevent the deterioration of the security situation, according to Chinese news agency Xinhua.

Unlike the December 27 elections, which were marred by violence, almost all the polling stations were open and the ballot took place in peace, Xinhua reported.

In December, UN peacekeepers and local and Rwandan soldiers patrolled the streets of the capital in armoured vehicles posted outside polling stations.

Meanwhile, rebels, who the UN said were backed by former president François Bozize, sought to take control amid allegations of voting irregularities. Many voters were unable to cast their ballots due to armed groups’ disruption of the vote at the time.

President Faustin-Archange Touadéra was re-elected in January for a second term after securing more than 53% of the votes. Following the announcement, violence escalated as armed groups waged an offensive against the government, capturing towns and forcing civilians to flee crossing borders to neighbouring countries.

The attacks continued despite the signing of a peace agreement between the government and armed groups.

The government and 14 armed groups signed the historic peace deal on February 6, 2019, under the auspices of the AU. However, some signatories have continued to violate the agreement and exploit the deal to consolidate their control over territory.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher