Central African Republic: complaints from legislative candidates multiply

A queue outside a polling station in Bangui, December 27, 2020 (Illustrative image).

© RFI / Charlotte Cosset

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

The results of the Central African presidential election of December 27 are still awaiting validation.

Outgoing president Faustin-Archange Touadéra came out on top with 53.92% of the vote.

The Constitutional Court has until January 19 to validate his re-election.

Regarding the legislative elections, many candidates for the deputy continue to come to file their request with the Court in Bangui.

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Gaps, lack of minutes, offices that only opened a few hours, intimidation, or candidates accused of being close to armed groups ... there are many complaints.

In Kembé, 600 km east of Bangui, only one of the two villages in the constituency was able to vote deplores a candidate, who came to submit his file.

"

 The Seleka rebels prevented the offices of one of the localities from opening, 

" he adds.

The latter had to go through neighboring Congo to reach Bangui, the road on the Central African side not being safe.

A masquerade

"

"

 This ballot was a farce, 

" indignant a candidate from Bambari, who also came to submit her case.

Armed men fired several times during the morning.

Only 3 out of 67 offices were able to open, she says, and still only 2 or 3 hours.

Supporting evidence - photo, testimonies, copy of minutes - applicants have until the end of the week to file their appeal.

After that, the Constitutional Court will have to study these numerous requests, before rendering its judgment on their validity by January 28 at the latest.

In their report presented at the end of December, international observers, in particular from the Economic Community of Central African States (Ceeac) and the African Union, expressed their satisfaction with the conduct of the elections.

More than 130 appeals have been filed with the Constitutional Court.

► To read also: Elections in the Central African Republic: the opposition denounces a "massive" use of the vote by derogation

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  • Central African Republic

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