BANGUI (CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC) – Central African Republic will cast vote, as part of a second round of parliamentary elections on Sunday under high security after rebel violence saw a surge over December’s polls.
Insurgents had sieged capital Bangui in January, hampering food supply routes, and left more than 200,000 to flee from their homes. It also raised concerns that the country was retreating to the kind of sectarian conflict, which has killed thousands over the past decade.
President Faustin Archange Touadéra won re-election, however, rebels, who according to the United Nations are backed by former president François Bozizé, were attempting to seize control amid allegations of voting irregularities.
Sunday’s polls raise the eyebrows of many, when it comes to the legislative elections, which includes run-off votes in 49 electoral districts and first round voting in 69 districts where violence halted the vote from taking place in December.
The country’s army, supported by Russian and Rwandan forces, and aided by UN peacekeepers, have steadily reclaimed a number of rebel strongholds since their initial offensive.
Abdoul-Aziz Fall, spokesman for the country’s UN peacekeeping mission, know as MINUSCA, said, “We have a much stronger defense and security forces presence on the ground to help secure the elections.”
Government officials are hopeful that the vote will be peaceful, pointing to military victories and the unblocking of a 580-km (360-mile) corridor, which brings essential supplies from Cameroon to Bangui.
The UN has reported a steep increase in human rights violations by armed groups and security forces from the month of December.
Accusations have been levelled at rebels for abducting civilians, shooting at people, who had crowded and burning down polling stations. It says state agents have inflicted torture and killed civilians.
Ravinda Shamdasani, the UN’s human rights representative, said, “Impunity can fuel further violations and embolden the perpetrators. It is very important that the government sends a clear message that such violations will not be tolerated.”
Meanwhile, Aboubakar Ali Siddick, a spokesman for a coalition of rebel groups known as the Coalition of Patriots for Change refuted claims that the army has made significant headway and dismissed Sunday’s vote as “a masquerade”.
