Hopes for peace as CAR holds elections

Voters in Central African Republic (CAR) yesterday turned out en masse to cast their votes in a much-delayed presidential and parliamentary elections that many hope will end nearly three years of sectarian violence that displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Security is high for Wednesday’s elections, which has been delayed several times, with the latest […]

Voters in Central African Republic (CAR) yesterday turned out en masse to cast their votes in a much-delayed presidential and parliamentary elections that many hope will end nearly three years of sectarian violence that displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
Security is high for Wednesday’s elections, which has been delayed several times, with the latest date set for December 27 postponed again by three days to allow officials deal with technical and organisational difficulties.
There was heavy turnout among the 1.8 million registered voters, nearly 40 percent of the population. Many lined up outside schools and other polling places well before they opened at 6 a.m., as United Nations peacekeepers, along with election monitors from the African Union, kept watch, New York Times reports.
Thirty candidates are competing in the presidential election, while all the 149 National Assembly seats are being contested. Four candidates are considered frontrunners for the presidency. 
Two of them – Martin Ziguele and Anicet Dologuele – were prime ministers under late President Ange-Felix Patasse. The third, Karim Meckassoua, is a Muslim who served as a minister under President Francois Bozize until he was ousted in 2013 by Seleka rebels. The last is Bilal Desire Nzanga-Kolingba, the son of a former president.
Interim President Catherine Samba-Panza has held office since May 2014 but is barred from contesting.
The voting, according to reports, seemed largely free of violence compared with the referendum, which was marred by sporadic violence. The violence prompted United Nations peacekeepers to intervene and bolster security.
The new head of the 11,000-strong UN force, General Bala Keita, had earlier promised that troops would be more aggressive during the elections.
CAR has been rocked by violence since March 2013 when a largely Muslim alliance of rebel groups known as the Seleka overthrew President Francois Bozize.
When a Seleka’s leader left power under intense international pressure in 2014, a swift backlash by the Christian anti-Balaka groups against Muslim civilians followed.
On December 13, voters overwhelmingly approved a new Constitution in a referendum, clearing the way for the elections and raising hopes for lasting peace.