CAR: Opposition Coalition Calls For Postponement Of December Elections Due To Violence

Central African Republic’s (CAR) main opposition coalition on Sunday called for postponing the upcoming December election due to violence by armed groups outside the capital Bangui, reported Reuters.  The CAR government is, however, insisting the presidential and legislative elections to be held as planned on Dec. 27, 2020.

The incumbent President Faustin-Archange Touadera is running for a second term. Last week, the CAR government accused former president Francois Bozize of plotting a coup after his candidacy was rejected.

 The country’s top court barred Bozize from running in the election citing the international arrest warrant filed by the CAR government over charges of murder, arbitrary arrest, and torture.

 Notably, several militia groups, some linked with Bozize, have been attacking civilians and election campaign convoys.

The opposition alliance, which includes Bozize, claims that the ongoing violence was preventing presidential and parliamentary candidates from campaigning in the country and had led to the destruction of electoral material and threats in almost all provincial centers.

In a statement, the COD 2020 said it was impossible to pursue an electoral campaign in current insecure conditions. It has demanded the postponement of the vote until stability is restored in the CAR.

Meanwhile, the G5+ group of countries and international institutions has strongly condemned the increase in violence and abuses in several localities in the country ahead of December elections. The G5+ comprises of representatives of the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, the World Bank, the Economic Community of Central African States, France and the US.

In a statement, the group deplored all acts of violence which particularly affects the civilian population in CAR.

“The G5+ considers that the elections must be held on Dec. 27, 2020, within the constitutional deadlines and condemns all maneuvers and attempts to engage the country in a new political transition in violation of the CAR’s constitution,” the group said in a statement.