CAR transition hits a snag

The president of the Central African Republic, Catherine Samba-Panza has been under fire lately. The country in transition is facing difficulties in recovering from the violent attack of September 25 to 30 that shook the country for the umpteenth time.

Within a few days, 61 Central Africans have been killed and 300 others were injured. These incidents have highlighted the fragility of the country's peace process, a mission that had been entrusted to a Transition regime by the international community and the Central African forces, after the fall of former president Michel Djotodia, twenty months ago.

For the violence that shook the country, many people have called for the departure of Catherine Samba-Panza. Most diplomats simply wished a speedy holding of elections in order to give the CAR new leaders who could restore calm in the country.

For her part, the Transitional President was quick to see the incidents of the last few days as a new attempt to destabilize the country. On a trip to New York where she took part in the General Assembly of the United Nations, she returned in a hurry in Bangui.

Before her return, Catherine Samba-Panza had reassured the international community that calm will be restored before the presidential election to be held on December 31 - the date of the end of the Transition.

But her good intentions were overtaken by the reality on the ground. The head of the transitional government in a speech to the nation even suggested that faced with insecurity prevailing in the country, "the elections may well be postponed." But this perspective was not suitable to many Central African partners who want the elections before the end of the year. It has become a chorus for quick elections.

"The transition in Central Africa Republic must end," said Chadian President Deby on an official visit this week in France. The Chadian leader called for quick election rather than "a shaky transition" (Sic).

The view of Deby is shared by the Senegalese Abdoulaye Bathily, the special representative of the UN in Central Africa. For him, the current transitional president gave the best of herself and that would extend against productivity. In Central Africa Republic, political actors are divided on what to do. While some call for the immediate departure of Catherine Samba-Panza, others are doing everything to prevent the holding of elections in the near future.

Despite the strong pressure exerted on her, Catherine Samba-Panza and her government bend without breaking. The Transition President has no illusions about the fact that she is not unanimously accepted. She especially shows a sacred realism admitting particularly that "security and cohesion remains fragile" in the country. In the process, she urges the Central African partners to help redress the balance. With this support, she seems convinced.

"I am fully supported by the international community, it is with the international community that we are doing advocacy for resource mobilization regarding the security sector, regarding national reconciliation, regarding the demobilization, disarmament and reintegration, as regards the restoration of State authority throughout the national territory," said Catherine Samba-Panza.

But the support of the international community no longer seems so unconditional. The official report of the constitutional referendum and a general election that is imminent could in any case suggest the immediate future of the Central African Republic.