CAR’s latest elections held in peace

Almost all polling stations in the country were able to open for a second round of parliamentary elections, according to the country’s electoral body.

CAPE TOWN, March 15 (ANA) – There were no attacks reported during the Central African Republic’s (CAR) second round of parliamentary elections held amid heavy security on Sunday.

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

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 Touadera 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.

On Friday, March 12, 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, Xinhua reported.

The government and the MINUSCA both expressed confidence that the election would be peaceful due to the additional forces and the recapture of rebel strongholds since their initial offensive.

In recent weeks, the CAR army, supported by Rwandan and MINUSCA personnel, has liberated several towns occupied by the rebels.

Since 2013, the country has been rocked by armed conflict fuelled by a coalition of mostly northern and predominantly Muslim rebels known as Seleka, who seized power in March 2013.

The Seleka offensive plunged the country into violence and instability when the group’s brutal rule gave rise to the opposing anti-Balaka Christian militias.

Tensions in the country rose during the lead-up to the December polls as a coalition of six armed groups, all of which are signatories to a peace agreement and some of which are allied with Bozize, launched a series of attacks across the country.

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.

Last year’s attacks occurred weeks after the country’s constitutional court rejected Bozize’s candidacy, citing an international arrest warrant and UN sanctions against him for alleged crimes against humanity and incitement to commit genocide.

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