Central African Republic President Declares Re-election Victory... 'Political Instability' Remains

President Touad?ra Secures Majority with 53.9% of Votes
Opposition Claims 'Election Fraud'... Political Instability Continues?

Faustin-Archange Touad?ra, President of the Central African Republic
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Although the presidential election was held with great difficulty in the Central African Republic (CAR), where United Nations (UN) peacekeepers have been deployed, confusion continues over the election results. Faustin Archange Touad?ra of the Central African Republic declared victory for re-election, but the opposition is protesting as procedural issues were confirmed, such as voting not taking place in some areas due to attacks by armed groups.

According to AP and AFP on the 4th (local time), the CAR Central Election Management Committee announced that President Touad?ra succeeded in his re-election with 53.9% of the vote. The committee announced a voter turnout of 76.3%. President Touad?ra secured more than half of the votes in this election, confirming his presidential victory without a runoff.

On the other hand, the opposition declared the election results invalid and demanded the 'nullification of the vote.' In fact, due to attacks by armed groups, voting was reduced in 6 out of 71 voting areas nationwide in CAR, and voting did not take place at all in 29 areas. Former Prime Minister Anicet Georges Dologu?l?, who ran as the opposition presidential candidate, lost with 21% of the vote and said in an interview with AFP on the same day, "(The election) was a comedy," claiming "there were many irregularities and fraudulent acts."

The CAR presidential election held on the 27th of last month was plagued by attacks from an alliance of rebel armed groups throughout the election period. According to AP, conflict between the CAR government and armed groups exploded after the CAR Constitutional Court rejected the candidacy of former President Fran?ois Boziz?.

Because of this, the UN redeployed peacekeepers previously sent to South Sudan to CAR to prepare for attacks by armed groups, but some local polling stations outside the capital area could not prevent attacks.

CAR, which has suffered political instability for decades, has been in greater turmoil since 2013 when former President Boziz? was ousted by the Muslim Seleka rebels. Although the Touad?ra government and 14 armed groups signed a peace agreement in 2019, violence and human rights violations continue to be repeated.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.