CAR, A Nation Still In Crisis Following 2020 Elections
The Central African Republic held its presidential and legislative elections on December 27, 2020. The country faced many challenges before and still does now. The country's former president François Bozizé, who held office from 2003 to 2013, wanted to run for the highest office again. Based on an international arrest warrant issued against him by CAR on May 29, 2013 on charges of murder, arbitrary arrests and torture, this was rejected by the CAR Constitutional Court on December 3, 2020. He then joined other armed groups. Incumbent Faustin-Archange Touadéra won with 53% of the vote and as a result, a second run-off, which would have been held on February 14, 2021, is unnecessary. However, challengers have pointed to various irregularities that marred the polls, particularly the violent attacks by armed groups that prevented voting in some areas. Many are calling for a rerun of the general elections. Paul-Simon Handy writes for the Institute for Security Studies: "seven years after the last coup d'état and six years after the deployment of the third-largest UN peace mission, and the deployment of Rwandan troops, can this election be seen as a milestone in the country's path to peace? Successes have been achieved in recent years due to a range of interventions from both the region and the international community. But these elections revealed major vulnerabilities that require rethinking the role of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and international stakeholders", he writes. Deutsche Welle's Crispin Mwakideu writes that the country's capital Bangui, came under attack from militants but was quelled by the CAR army.
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Central African Republic:
At Least 100,000 People Displaced as Rebels Launch Offensive
The New Humanitarian, 18 January 2021
'This coalition puts fear back in our stomachs.' Read more »
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Central African Republic:
Displacement Reaches 120,000 Amid Worsening Election Violence
UN News, 15 January 2021
"Worsening" election violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) has forced 120,000 people from their homes, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday. Read more »
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Central African Republic:
UN Security Council Condemns Car Rebel Attack On Bangui
RFI, 14 January 2021
The UN Security Council has denounced Wednesday's attack on the Central African Republic capital Bangui that left one blue helmet dead. It marks the first attack by the Coalition… Read more »
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Central African Republic:
Army Quells Rebel Attack on Capital, Bangui
DW, 13 January 2021
Government troops on Wednesday repelled an attack by armed rebels seeking to capture the capital Bangui. The conflict-ridden nation is on edge following the December 2020 election. Read more »
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Central Africa:
CAR Elections Expose the Depth of the Country's Crisis
ISS, 13 January 2021
On 27 December 2020, citizens of the Central African Republic (CAR) were called to elect their president and 140 Members of Parliament amid renewed violence between non-state armed… Read more »
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Central African Republic:
Global Community Reacts to CAR Election Outcome
CAJ News, 5 January 2021
THE international community has appealed for calm and justice to prevail in the Central African Republic (CAR) after Faustin Archange Touadéra was re-elected for a second… Read more »
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Central African Republic:
CAR Internet Rollout Deferred Amid Conflict
CAJ News, 7 January 2021
A network of organisations providing shared communications services in humanitarian emergencies requires over US$871 000 to roll out internet connectivity in the Central African… Read more »
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Central African Republic:
What Is Francois Bozize's Agenda? He Should Be Stopped
East African, 6 January 2021
The December 27 elections in the Central African Republic have been marred by fighting between government and rebel forces. In the flare-up, thousands of people have been… Read more »
InFocus
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An election in the Central African Republic went ahead, despite a series of attacks in the run-up to polling and threats to polling stations. Incumbent President Faustin Archange ... Read more »
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The Central African Republic is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary polls on December 27, 2020. But the government is accusing former president François ... Read more »
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The Central African Republic, a former French colony whose governance system is based on an exploitative divide-and-rule system, is an example of how a state can be captured, ... Read more »
Faustin-Archange Touadéra, President of the Central African Republic.