In the Central African Republic, 50 out of 140 constituencies were called to vote this Sunday, May 23, for legislative elections that began on December 27, 2020 but are severely disrupted by armed groups. They were therefore by-elections: the second round for 42 constituencies and eight other “remnants”, where a new first round was organized.
as reported from Bangui, Carol Valade
Voting was generally quiet, despite some isolated incidents, according to the information available, only one polling station could not open. For the President of the National Electoral Assembly, Me Mathias Morouba, the results of this third round are therefore quite positive. For him, a new page in the country’s history is turning.
Mathias Morouba is the President of the National Election Authority (ANE) in the Central African Republic
Mathias Morouba; “Our country has just passed another step in its history”
We were informed that there must be a threat from the CPC, which arrested certain election agents and withdrew the minutes from the vote. But in the end we found a solution by sending them other protocols that were in reserve. On the other hand, we have also seen a strong mobilization of the defense and security forces. Thanks to Minusca, we have a fresh air when it comes to logistics. And at the moment, our country has just passed another step in its history. Election 2021. And we hope that after these elections we will organize local elections, especially municipal ones.
In the third district of Bangui, in the PK5 district, power and opposition compete for two seats. The campaign was in full swing until the last minute. Although the National Assembly seems to have already gained power, efforts are still high, says AliOusmane, coordinator of the “Arc en Ciel” Observer Network: “Everyone wants a dominant position in the Assembly. There is the opposition that wants to make a breakthrough. There is also the party in power that also wants to make an effort to maintain its leadership. ”
Letting the MCU, the party in power, comfort its majority, is the wish of Denis Ndenere, secretary general of an association in support of President Touadéra: “If we do not have enough deputies, how can we approve the texts? Which can go for the country’s development “If Professor Touadéra wins the majority, it means that the people are behind him. What we expect from him is development and security.”
In Bangui’s 3rd arrondissement, opponents stood behind Abdoul Karim Meckassoua’s candidacy. For Issa Souleymane, political adviser to URCA, the party of Anicet Georges Dologuele, a strong opposition is more democracy: “You can not be the only chef in the country. MCU did not think about it […] There must be a division of power with the opposition, civil society and the forces of the nation. ”
The sentence should not be long. The Constitutional Court now has eight days to announce the preliminary results.
.
