CAR-POLITICS/OCTOBER ELECTIONS Central Africans divided over polls, as analysts call for postponement of vote

Record ID: 141277

  • Title: CAR-POLITICS/OCTOBER ELECTIONS Central Africans divided over polls, as analysts call for postponement of vote
  • Date: 11th September 2015
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 11, 2015) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (French) THIERRY VIRCOULON, CENTRAL AFRICA PROJECT DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP SAYING: "And finally, the biggest problem to address is the reconciliation in the Central African Republic, notably amongst Muslims and non-Muslim groups, is an objective which is far from being achieved. I was in the CAR in Augus
  • Embargoed: 26th September 2015 13:00
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  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA8ULS080DGPHXQFXU74CIMLVAA
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: As Central African Republic prepares to hold presidential and parliamentary elections next month, analysts are warning that holding elections at this time could lead the country into further political instability and violence.
    Voters are due to go to the polls on October 18 and November 22, however, preparations for the elections, including voter registration, have been delayed.
    CAR is struggling with a severe humanitarian crisis and is battling to end a civil war that has killed thousands.
    The country descended into chaos in March 2013 when the predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power, sparking reprisals by "anti-balaka" Christian militia, who drove out tens of thousands of Muslims from the south in a de facto partition of the landlocked country.
    A transitional authority currently in place is charged with organizing elections and restoring democratic rule.
    On the streets of the capital Bangui, some question the validity of holding elections while security in most of the country remains volatile, while others say polls are the only solution to the ongoing political crisis.
    "It's not possible to hold elections in October. ANE (National Election Authority) staff go on strike from time to time because they haven't been paid their salaries. And then there is the issue of insecurity. The biggest problem is the ongoing issue of insecurity which is pretty much throughout Central African Republic, so it won't be possible. How can people campaign when there is insecurity?" said Ali Francois, a Bangui resident.
    "To be honest, I'd like elections to be postponed to 2016, so that we can first disarm the two militias, the anti-balaka and the seleka and re-arm the FACA (CAR military) and make them operational again. So they can be deployed throughout the country, near our borders, as well as In the remote areas of the country," added civil servant Andre Orenam.
    "I don't want elections to be postponed in Central African Republic because the only way out of the crisis in Central African Republic is the election. Central African people are fed up with the transitional government, we want a quick change and this change must come through elections, so all we want is to go for elections," said shopkeeper, Olivier Wilidon.
    Although the violence in Central African Republic has eased in recent months, sporadic killings still occur, fuelled by criminality.
    With many armed group still roaming the country and terrorizing civilians, analysts say elections should be delayed to allow transitional authorities to make further progress on disarmament.
    "It is imperative to start the process of disarmament of the different militant groups because voting in the shadow of these armed groups will pose a number of problems. The first problem is that a number of warlords intend to enter the political arena in these elections and this in terms of the crimes they have committed and their role in the conflict in the Central African Republic, makes this move very problematic, and then most importantly, if they elect a government in the country right now, it will be them that will bear the burden of the issue of the DDR (disarmament) after the election," said Thierry Vircoulon, Central Africa Project Director for the international Crisis Group.
    But with tensions still simmering between Muslims and Christians, analysts argue the country is still far from reaching social reconciliation.
    "And finally, the biggest problem to address is the reconciliation in the Central African Republic, notably amongst Muslims and non-Muslim groups, is an objective which is far from being achieved. I was in the CAR in August and there is still a very strong sense of animosity towards Muslims, who are considered the cause of this conflict, which poses various problems. Notably, there was the vote concerning the refugees who are mostly Muslim which was contested by the National Transitional Council and one senses the animosity popular amongst the people towards Muslims is going to make their participation in this election a very delicate issue," added Vircoulon.
    The United Nations has stated that the elections must take place before the end of the year as the transitional government will reach the end of its mandate on December 31.
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