Consensus reached for CAR elections in December

The Transition President of the Central African Republic, Catherine Samba-Panza on Saturday, October 31, 2015 assured that the constitutional referendum, legislative and the first round of the presidential elections will take place before the end of 2015 following a consensus reached by political actors. She spoke in the capital Bangui after talks with the visiting French Secretary of State for Development and the Francophonie, Annick Girardin.

“There is no alternative for us because we cannot stay indefinitely in a transitional process,” BBC quoted her as saying and further said, the people are keen to vote and, “ 95 per cent of eligible voters have already registered. The objective of this transition is to take this country to elections because this is the only way out for us."

Insisting on being realistic taking into account the precarious security situation in the country, she said, it would not be possible to organize the entire electoral process this 2015, stating that the authorities have taken the commitment to start with the referendum and first round of presidential election.

December 6, 2015 had earlier been announced as the day for the referendum and December 13, 2015 as that for the legislative and presidential elections but Samba-Panza said she was still waiting for the National Elections Authority to announced the official date.

Catherine Samba-Panza’s declaration and assurance came amidst rising insecurity with more clashes between Christian-dominated rebel group Anti-balaka and Muslim-dominated one Seleka in the capital, Bangui and other town since September that even compelled the transitional authorities to postpone elections from October 18, 2015.

Clashes between the rival rebel groups last Thursday left four people dead and 20 others wounded in Bangui. The upsurge of the sectarian fighting and attack by gunmen in several parts of the country since September forced the authorities to postpone the elections initially scheduled in October 18.