Tensions rose for a while on Tuesday, December 22 in the Central African Republic. The coalition-armed groups carried out a new round of coordinated attacks in different parts of the country. In this context, more and more actors and observers of the electoral process are questioning the possibility of holding credible elections on Sunday. Is a postponement of the vote possible? What consequences would that have?
With our correspondent for our Special Correspondent in the Central African Republic, Florence morice
Theoretically, the ANE, the National Election Agency, is responsible for each postponement if it is impossible to organize a credible election on the planned date. But within this agency, this Tuesday, December 22, and despite the many difficulties in the field, we did not seem to have decided to make such a decision alone. The ball was returned to the authorities. “Everyone sees us rushing into a wall, but no one dares to say so,” irritates a wise observer.
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But experts believe that a technical postponement of ten days would not affect respect for the constitutional order.
The current texts do not impose an obligation to hold the vote on 27 December, but stipulate that a new president must be invested by 30 March. This leaves some room for maneuver.
Should the postponement go any further, the Constitution provides for national consultations to begin. And not automatically a transition, as some suggest.
But the issue is as much political as it is technical at this stage President Touadéra“Accepting a launch would be seen as a symbolic victory for François Bozizé,” a diplomatic source said.
Please note that the Group of Partner Countries of the Central African Republic (G5) will meet on Thursday, 24 December to assess the situation.
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