Yesterday’s presidential and legislative elections in the Central African Republic (CAR), a major step on the path to stability after two years of conflict between Muslims and Christians, were an undeniable success ” with a massive turnout, the top United Nations official there said today.
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Counting of Central African Republic’s national elections must stop, about two-thirds of the 30 presidential candidates said Monday, alleging fraud. Thousands were killed and sectarian violence has continued, displacing almost 1 million people.
Anicet Georges Dologuele, another former prime minister who had been seen as one of the favourites to lead the country, was on 28,162 votes while Desire Kolingbala, son of former military dictator Andre Kolingba, had 25,057.
Central African Republic has been rocked by violence since March 2013 when a largely Muslim alliance of rebel groups overthrew President Francois Bozize. Both men are Christian, like 80 percent of the population.
If no candidate wins more than 50 percent, the two front-runners will compete in a second round on January 31.
“There is no question… of halting the electoral process under way”, Minister of Territorial Administration Modibo Bachir Walidou told reporters in the capital, Bangui. However, the electoral commission and some other candidates noted that, according to the electoral code, any issues with the results can be lodged once final results have been handed to the constitutional court for validation. They said a new solution should be found.
Kolingba, who is the son of a former president, said ballot boxes were found at homes of candidates, and warned against the theft of what he said was his “certain victory”.
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The election for a president and legislators from 1.8 million registered voters comes almost a month after Pope Francis visited the country and called for peace and reconciliation between Christians and Muslims.
