Central African Republic: Bozize Re-Elected, Opposition Rejects Results

IRIN
Central African Republic's president, Francois Bozize.
3 February 2011
allAfrica.com

President François Bozize of the Central African Republic has been re-elected with 66 percent of the vote, while his nearest rival won only 20 percent, according to results released this week by the electoral commission.

Africa Info reports that of the 16 electoral districts in the country, Bozize lost only one, the district of Ouham Pende, where his main challenger and the former president, Ange Félix Patassé, won 43 ,303 votes as against his 18,205. Bozize swept up all the other electoral districts in the country.

The head of the independent electoral commission, Joseph Binguimalé, announced the provisional results on February  1. He said the number of registered voters totalled 1,825,735. The number of votes was 986,030, hence 54 percent of voters cast ballots. The number of valid ballots was 918,841, he indicated.

A breakdown of the result showed:

  • Bozize, François,  607184 votes, or 66,08 percent;
  • Patassé, Ange Félix, 184,716 votes, or 20,10 percent;
  • Demafouth, Jean Jacques, 24,980, 2, 72 percent ;
  • Nkombo, Emile Gros, 42,591 of votes, 4,64 percent; and
  • Ziguélé, Martin 59,370, 6,46 percent.

The provisional result will now be sent to the constitutional court for validation in conformity with articles 168 and 171 of the constitution, Binguimalé said.

Supporters of Bozizé were happy with the first round victory of  their candidate, reports Radio France Internationale. Fidèle Ngouandjika accused the opposition of being bad losers. To him the result is a "victory of the people of the Central African Republic." The opposition had indicated before the voting that they were not going to recognize the results.

Opposition leaders Martin Ziguélé and Emile Nakombo said the "hold-up is now consummated".

According to Ziguélé, the voting process was irregular and the outcome in no way reflected the opinion of the country's people.

Jean-Jacques Démafouth described the election as a "national disgrace," while Patassé  said he feels cheated. He said that he, with the other candidates, is going to file a protest at the constitutional court.

The winning camp is took pleasure in mocking Ziguélé, given that he took Bozize to a second round of voting in 2005.

Adapted and translated by Michael Tantoh.

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