General elections are scheduled to hold in the Central African Republic (CAR) on the 27th of December 2020. Ahead of the polls, a tense political climate persists in the African country. Armed groups still control much of the country despite a peace agreement signed between the two main rebel groups, the Popular Front for the Rebirth of Central African Republic (FPRC) and the Movement of Central African Liberators for Justice (MLCJ) almost two years ago.
As part of the peace deal, rebel officials––several of whom were accused of war crimes––were granted 13 ministerial positions and others appointed as military advisors to Prime Minister Firmin Ngrebada. Yet, the fighting has not ceased.
The violence from these armed groups has stalled voter registration in some parts of the country, effectively cutting off over 200,000 refugees of voting age from the electoral process. With a current population of over 4 million, the CAR has an average voter turnout of 60.1%. However, voter exclusion and security tensions could significantly reduce this number.
Who Is Contesting?
The incumbent president, Faustin-Archange Touadera, will be seeking a second term under the United Hearts Movement (MCU) party. He ran in 2015 as an independent candidate and he will be contesting for the seat alongside 16 other candidates approved by the CAR’s constitutional court including Anicet-Georges Dologuélé of the Central African Renewal (URCA), former interim president Catherine Samba-Panza -Independent candidate and only female in the race.
The list released excludes former President Francise Bozize who has come back to the CAR after years in exile. The court declared his candidacy invalid, citing his prosecution for assassinations, torture and sanctions by the United Nations.
Election materials arrived early last week at the Bangui M’poko International Airport in the country’s capital. The materials include ballot boxes, voting booths and voter cards.
