The top court in the Central African Republic (CAR) has rejected the candidacy of former President Francois Bozize in the December 27 election. A wildcard (and probably quixotic) candidate is Edgard Kalambani, a former basketball star in the CAR who currently lives in Scotland. Despite ongoing tensions, attacks by armed groups and the challenges now posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, plans to hold the Central African Republic’s critical … Amira Elfadil Mohammed, Commissioner for Social Affairs, African Union Commission. General elections were held in the Central African Republic on 30 December 2015 to elect the President and National Assembly. His remarks were shared after the meeting, which was held behind closed doors. Similarly, Bozizé, who returned to the country in December 2019 after six years abroad, has also announced his intent to run, but the country’s top court rejected his candidacy. World Bank Supports Madagascar’s Digital Transformation, Sudan alert: Flooding and surging inflation threaten humanitarian assistance, Illicit financial flows threaten security and stability in Africa, The Operational Problems of administering Covid-19 Vaccines in Western Africa, DR Congo: Political tensions, armed attacks, displacement and COVID threats continue. UN, African Union Officials Try to Avoid Repeat of Rwanda Genocide in Central African Republic Elections. Like the rest of the world, African countries face immediate healthcare needs and will bear economic and social consequences of the global coronavirus pandemic. We know that fighting COVID-19 in Africa is not only about saving lives today, but about the future of the continent, it is about strengthening our health systems to better support preparedness and response to health emergencies in the future. “The coming period will be decisive for the country”, António Guterres told a high-level meeting on the country, held on Thursday. This project illustrates the engagement of the European Union to help scale up preparedness for global health emergencies and to strengthen support to health systems in Africa. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The bishops of the Central African Republic have called on citizens and on the government to work towards socio-political change amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis and preparations for the country’s presidential elections, set for 27 December 2020. Faustin-Archange Touadéra, President of the Central African Republic, speaks during the first anniversary of the Central African Republic peace agreement at the Palais de la Renaissance in Bangui on February 6, 2020. The Constitutional Court of the Central African Republic (RCA) on Thursday invalidated the candidacy of ex-President Francois Bozize, who cannot attend the Dec. 27 elections because he must answer for crimes against humanity. The UN envoy expressed particular concern over extremist fighters loyal to Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin, “with an increase in the number of attacks and kidnappings”. Description of electoral system: The President is elected by absolute majority vote through a two-round system to serve a 5-year term. The U.N. envoy for Central African Republic said Monday the country “is very definitely on its way to holding successful elections” in late December but the political situation is still tense. Central African Republic on the Eve of Elections: From Crisis to Reconciliation. As a result, Russia has ramped up its political and military involvement in exchange for mining rights. Absenteeism, factionalism, and limited contact with citizens limit the National Assembly’s effectiveness, Burkina Faso Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: November 22, 2020. The new partnership between the European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control and the Africa CDC is a crucial step to achieve this common goal. The... Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI) is a mega initiative of the century for peace and development. Meanwhile, local elections – which have not taken place in the Central African Republic since 1988 – are also due in 2020/2021, although it is far from clear when or whether they will happen. A former Russian intelligence officer is Touadéra’s national security advisor, and the Wagner Group handles Touadéra’s personal security detail. He recently launched and now heads new coalition of opposition parties called Coalition de l’Opposition Démocratique 2020 (COD-2020). “We must also ensure, through the use of assessed contributions, predictable and sustained financing of AU peace support operations, mandated by the Security Council, under Chapter VII of the Charter”, he upheld, adding his hope for progress on this next year. Consequently, violence could break out again around the elections. The UN Secretary-General has called for parties in the Central African Republic (CAR) to prioritize national dialogue and consensus-building ahead of elections scheduled to begin in December. We are acting now, together, to end this crisis and be prepared for future outbreaks. In the Central African Republic, the smooth conduct of the December 2020 elections will be essential for the country's stability. These arrangements have drawn criticism from opposition figures such as former National Assembly president Karim Meckassoua and groups such as É Zingo Biani – a coalition of opposition politicians and civil society activists. While expressing his “hope that we will be able to do it before the second quarter”, he acknowledged that several countries have made “an enormous effort” to ensure vaccinations for their own populations while at the same time, the COVAX financing requirements have yet to be fully met. However, delays are possible, either due to COVID … By Fr. Category: Overview Tags: Central African Republic, “For the sake of peace and justice, let us move toward a world in which all people are at last free to determine their own destiny.” Ronald Reagan, Westminster Address. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) launched a new partnership initiative to strengthen the capacity of Africa CDC to prepare for and respond to public health threats in Africa. Faustin-Archange Touadéra, President of the Central African Republic, speaks during the first anniversary of the Central African Republic peace agreement at the Palais de la Renaissance in Bangui on February 6, 2020. A UN peacekeeping operation has been in the CAR since 2014 following intercommunal violence, largely between a mainly Muslim coalition known as Séléka, and a mostly Christian alliance, commonly referred to as the Anti-Balaka. Benedict Mayaki, SJ. Publication | 09 Dec 2015. The African Union judged the election to be generally successful despite irregularities and allegations of fraud. John-Paul Holden, The Herald Scotland (October 6, 2020): Scottish businessman bids to become president of the Central African Republic, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), encouraging CAR to hold the elections on time, CAR President Touadera announces candidacy for December election, Uncertainties about the presidential election at the end of December in the Central African Republic, Francois Bozize, deposed CAR leader, announces presidential bid, In Search of the State in the Central African Republic, 3-D chess with ex-presidents back in war-torn C.Africa ahead of polls, Russia’s murky business dealings in the Central African Republic, What is the Central African Republic’s Divided Parliament For? Ndiaye said the Dec. 27 presidential and legislative elections are taking place at “a crucial moment,” saying Central Africans have “a unique opportunity to leverage what has been achieved democratically and pursue stabilization of the country.” Voter registration in Bangui, Central African Republic. The COVAX international vaccine initiative requires $4.2 billion over the next two months to ensure that “sooner rather than later”, World Health Organization (WHO)-approved inoculation can get underway in Africa, UN chief António Guterres said. He faces an international arrest warrant for crimes against humanity in addition to UN Security Council sanctions due to his support of anti-Balaka attacks. Samba-Panza has announced her candidacy. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The Central African Republic (CAR) is making progress as it prepares for presidential and legislative elections in December, but the political situation is still fragile - and security conditions volatile - amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said on Monday. In a series of images from Central African Republic, South Sudan and Liberia, a trio of award-winning photographers offer a personal take on child hunger Gallery Published: 4 Oct 2019 Looming Elections and the Need to Deploy Greater Leverage for Peace. Central African Republic, like nearly every nation on the planet, has not been spared by the COVID-19 pandemic, with indictors predicting a contraction by up to 1.2 of the country’s economic growth, President Faustin Archange Touadera said on Thursday, calling on … Central African Republic › Election for President Feb. 14, 2021 Second Round if needed Central African Republic Election for President More Info: General elections will be held in the Central African Republic on 27 December 2020 to elect the President and National Assembly. Govt. Mr. Guterres reaffirmed the UN’s strong commitment to AU peace support operations, and its intention to develop a support model that draws on lessons from existing UN and AU operations in complex conflict environments. The World Economic Forum today launched a new report that outlines how organizational leaders can influence their companies and encourage... Biden’s UN Ambassador will find the UN in the same state as the US foreign service post-Trump, The 2020 ˋBattleˊ of Diplomatic Notes Opens the Door to a Possible Solution for the South China Sea Disputes, Reasons to study international studies and diplomacy, Why Pakistan, not India was added to US religious black list, Saudi Arabia sends Joe Biden mixed messages, Vietnam-India Relations in 2020 and prospects for the future. The Central African Republic’s parliament voted on Wednesday to grant the electoral body extra time to register voters. Read more → Hurdles on the road to peace in the Central African Republic. Its headquarters are located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Touadéra is running for re-election. 4. The former President agreed to run as a candidate for his party after returning to his country at the end of 2019. In closing the Special Represented affirmed that conflicts between farmers and herders continue in Central Africa and echoed the Secretary-General’s appeal to governments and local communities to continue working together to address common challenges. C.A.R. These cookies do not store any personal information. Presidential and legislative elections in the Central African Republic (CAR) could test the ability of national and international actors alike to keep the country stable. The government and opposition should ease tensions, international partners should support credible elections and regional actors should encourage armed groups to abstain from violence during the electoral period. The UN Secretary-General has called for parties in the Central African Republic (CAR) to prioritize national dialogue and consensus-building ahead of elections scheduled to begin in December. In response, southern Christian militias called “anti-Balaka” (“invincible” in Sango) clashed with the government and attacked civilians. Spotlighting “drug trafficking, trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants”, Mr. Fall bemoaned maritime organized crime in the Gulf of Guinea. Elections in the Central African Republic gives information on election and election results in the Central African Republic. The U.N. envoy for Central African Republic said Monday the country "is very definitely on its way to holding successful elections" in late December but the political situation is still tense. Regional Strategy for the Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience of Boko Haram-Affected Areas. BANGUI Tensions are building ahead of presidential and legislative elections this month in Central African Republic, amid friction between rival candidates and increasing violence by armed groups that still control much of the country despite a peace agreement signed almost two years ago. The country has had multiparty elections since 1993, but a series of coups and instability have prevented democracy from flourishing. is one of the world’s least developed nations, and has experienced several periods of … In the Central African Republic, the smooth conduct of the December 2020 elections will be essential for the country's stability. Despite UNOCA’s efforts to promote conflict prevention measures, Mr. Fall acknowledged that armed elements in Cameroon’s north and southwest are now targeting civilians. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Political parties in Central African Republic are weak – a large chunk of the National Assembly members are independents and the parties that do function tend to be vehicles for specific politicians rather than ideologies. “The commitments made by all signatories must be respected”, he said, while strongly condemning attacks targeting civilians, humanitarian workers and UN peacekeepers. The U.N. envoy for Central African Republic said Monday the country “is very definitely on its way to holding successful elections” in late December but the political situation is still tense. The political climate is becoming “increasingly tense”, according to a recent UN report, as popular opposition to the peace agreement builds ahead of next year’s presidential elections. Since the beginning of the current conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR), thousands of civilians have been killed, injured or displaced. TANZANIA, Tanzania — The U.N. envoy for Central African Republic said Monday the country “is very definitely on its way to holding successful elections” in late December but the political situation is still tense. The Secretary-General reported that there has been progress in implementing the agreement, including in legislative reforms, extension of state authority across the country, and a process for disarming, demobilizing and reintegrating combatants. “The presidential, legislative and local elections represent a unique opportunity for national reconciliation and the consolidation of peace, as well as the country’s constitutional order and democratic achievements.”. Moreover, civilians continue to face attacks from various armed groups. The Commission recently presented a proposal to significantly strengthen the mandate of the ECDC. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Assembly: Central African Republic has a unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) with 105 seats. Central African Republic. By Fr. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. What is the outlook ahead of next year’s elections? Fighting continues despite a new agreement signed in February 2019 that gave government roles to some of the insurgent leaders. Last year, three Russian journalists from a newspaper critical of the Kremlin were killed in the country while they were investigating the role of the Wagner Group, a Russian military contractor, in exploiting the CAR’s mineral wealth. The UN Secretary-General has called for parties in the Central African Republic (CAR) to prioritize national dialogue and consensus-building ahead of elections scheduled to begin in December. In the longer term and throughout the recovery phase, this partnership-focused approach should also be brought to bear in revitalising initiatives for strengthening health systems and advancing universal health coverage, particularly through primary health care approaches that aim to meet the needs of the most. Hans de Marie Heungoup, International Crisis Group (March 13, 2020): Mathieu Olivier, The Africa Report (August 23, 2019): Aly Verjee and Soleil-Parfait Kalessopo, U.S. Institute of Peace (February 4, 2019): By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our, The 2020 Elections in Central African Republic: Potentially Crowded Presidential Field, Central African Republic court rejects ex-president Bozizé’s election candidacy. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Photo credit: VOA/Z. COD-2020 could potentially unite behind Dologuélé. Presidential and legislative elections in the Central African Republic (CAR) could test the ability of national and international actors alike to keep the country stable. Event: Upcoming Elections in the Central African Republic . “The coming period will be decisive for the country”, António Guterres told a high-level meeting on the country, held on Thursday. The UN strongly supports the AU’s flagship initiative on Silencing the Guns in Africa, which, he noted, aligns with the global ceasefire appeal that he hopes to further advance. In the Central African Republic, the smooth conduct of the December 2020 elections will be essential for the country's stability. UN: Central African Republic on way to successful elections By EDITH M. LEDERER October 20, 2020 GMT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. envoy for Central African Republic said Monday the country “is very definitely on its way to holding successful elections” in late December but the political situation is still tense. Additionally, the collaboration between the Security Council and the AU’s Peace and Security Council should be strengthened, according to the top UN official. The Central African Republic (CAR) has been unstable since its independence from France in 1960. Voter Turnout Nov. 22, 1998 Dec. 13, 1998 March 13, 2005 March 13, 2005 May 8, 2005 May 8, 2005 Jan. 23, 2011 Jan. 23, 2011 March 27, 2011 Dec. 13, 2015 0 20 40 60 80 100 The international community has been involved in encouraging CAR to hold the elections on time. The UN Secretary-General has called for parties in the Central African Republic (CAR) to prioritize national dialogue and consensus-building ahead of elections scheduled to begin in December. The partnership of the two organizations would benefit from a number of concrete steps, including a further institutionalization of cooperation at every level. Dologuélé conceded and urged his supporters to accept the results peacefully. Already before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, €2.6 billion of the EU’s sustainable development funding for the period 2014-2020 had been allocated to health. Last Updated: December 9, 2020 by 21votes, Elections in the Central African Republic are taking place in the context of a political and humanitarian crisis. MINUSCA/Hervé Serefio, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), People are regularly displaced in north-east Cameroon due to conflict. The Central African Republic (CAR) has scheduled presidential and legislative elections for December 27, 2020. Share . Ndiaye said the Dec. 27 presidential and legislative elections are taking place at a crucial moment, saying Central Africans have a unique opportunity to leverage what has been achieved democratically and pursue stabilization of the country.” Polls have closed in the Central African Republic where elections have been held to end years of conflict. In the Central African Republic, the smooth conduct of the December 2020 elections will be essential for the country's stability. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content, and their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. Bozizé planned to run against President Faustin-Archange Touadéra. With so-called vaccine nationalism spreading “with full speed”, the Secretary-General told a journalists, following the fourth annual African Union-UN conference, that the continent must be “effectively supported” to fight the pandemic everywhere. 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