BANGUI FEBRUARY 9, 2016 (CISA) – The Central African Republic (CAR) presidential run-off and the first round of legislative elections will be held on February 14.
Voters will go to the polls to choose between two former prime ministers: Anicet-Georges Dologuélé and Faustin Archange Touadéra after no single candidate emerged with a majority in the first round held in December 2015.
Dologuélé led the first round with 23.7 percent while Touadéra came in second in 19 percent according to the country’s electoral commission. Both men held the office of prime minister in the past.
The country was plunged into turmoil in 2013 when Muslim rebels from the Seleka group ousted President François Bozizé and seized power in the majority Christian country.
A group of mostly Christian militias, called the anti-balaka, rose up to counter the Seleka. According to UN, more than 5,000 people are thought to have been killed and 1 million people nearly a quarter of the population forced to flee in the aftermath when months of anarchy turned into a sectarian battle between the two groups.
Former President Bozizé who is currently living in exile, is being investigated by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and CAR authorities for crimes against humanity committed during his ten-year presidency from 2003-2013 as well as during the conflict after his overthrow in March 2013.
The former president had wanted to run in the elections, but was banned due to allegations of human rights allegations. Catherine Samba-Panza was chosen as new interim president in January 2014.
