On the eve of the elections of December 28, Secretary-General António Guterres called on all Central Africans to participate peacefully in the vote and urged the authorities to ensure that the elections take place “in a peaceful, orderly, inclusive and credible manner”. according to a statement published Wednesday by its spokesperson.
He also called on all political actors and stakeholders to refrain from any actions that could incite violence or undermine confidence in the process, stressing the importance of safeguarding the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the electoral period.
Historic vote
Sunday’s elections will be of unprecedented scale, combining four ballots – presidential, legislative, regional and municipal – across the country. Municipal elections, in particular, have not taken place in the Central African Republic (CAR) since 1988 and are a key provision of the 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation.
The Secretary-General described their conduct as “a historic step in the peace process” and a crucial step towards the consolidation of decentralization and the extension of state authority beyond the capital.
A complex landscape
The Central African Republic has long struggled with armed violence, weak institutions and limited state presence beyond the capital Bangui.
Despite the 2019 agreement, insecurity persists in parts of the country, while conflict, fragility of services and extreme weather conditions continue to fuel a humanitarian crisis, with more than two million people in need of assistance and almost a million displaced within the country or abroad.
Vast, sparsely populated and landlocked, the CAR is bordered by six countries and crisscrossed by dense forests, rivers and long, often impassable roads. Outside of Bangui, many communities are only accessible by plane or multi-day trips.
UN support for the electoral process
Mr. Guterres acknowledged the efforts of national authorities in preparing for the vote and highlighted the role of the United Nations peacekeeping mission. MINUSCAsupporting the process, in coordination with other UN agencies.
In recent weeks, MINUSCA mobilized significant logistical and security support to deploy electoral materials across the country.including in remote and difficult to access areas.
The mission transported ballot papers, indelible ink, electoral lists and other sensitive documents from Bangui to nearly 4,000 voting centers housing around 6,700 polling stations across the country.
A MINUSCA convoy transporting electoral kits to voting centers in the Central African Republic in preparation for the December 28, 2025 vote.
MINUSCA deployed all aircraft and helicopters in its fleet to transport electoral materials and staff, escorted secure ground convoys, and provided temporary storage facilities for sensitive materials in coordination with the National Electoral Authority (NEA).
He also supported civic education and voter awareness campaigns.notably on the prevention of electoral violence and the promotion of a code of conduct for political actors.
More than 2.39 million registered voters – including more than 1.14 million women – are expected to vote.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
