According to has MINUSCA, preliminary reports from observers indicate that more than 99 percent of polling stations across the country opened as scheduled on Election Day.
The transfer of envelopes containing the results from 19 prefectural capitals to the national capital, Bangui, is now underway, with the logistical and security support of the mission.
The vote of December 28 marked a unprecedented moment in the political history of the countrybringing together four ballots in a single electoral exercise. 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.
Vast, sparsely populated and landlocked, the CAR is crisscrossed by dense forests, rivers and long, often impassable roads. Outside of Bangui, many communities are only accessible by plane or multi-day trips.
Ballots are counted under flashlights after elections in the Central African Republic.
Massive UN support for a complex operation
MINUSCA said it worked closely with national authorities and United Nations agencies to support the electoral process.delivering all voting materials on time despite difficult terrain and security constraints.
In total, the mission carried out 84 flights and eight road convoys to transport more than 230 tonnes of electoral materials, including ballots, indelible ink, voter cards, voting booths and ballot boxes.
Election materials were delivered to 6,679 of the country’s 6,700 polling stations, allowing them to operate normally in 20 prefectures.
Technically and operationally, some 34,500 people – including election officials, supervisors and polling station staff – were trained with UN support.
Security measures
Poll security was strengthened thanks to the deployment of additional national troops and police, logistically supported by MINUSCA, alongside patrols reinforced by UN peacekeepers and police personnel.
The mission also provided the Central African armed forces and internal security personnel with vehicles and motorcycles to reach remote and isolated areas.
Speaking at a press conference On Wednesday in Bangui, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the CAR, Valentine Rugwabiza, said the mission had successfully fulfilled its mandate despite a difficult environment.
UN peacekeepers patrol a voting center in the capital Bangui during the elections.
Incident in Haut-Mbomou
Ms. Rugwabiza strongly condemned an attack in Bambouti, in the southeastern Haut-Mbomou prefecture, near the border with South Sudan, which prevented voting there due to insecurity.
The attack, carried out by the armed group Azandé Ani Kpi Gbe (AAKG), was also accompanied by hostage-taking, including the sub-prefect.
She said MINUSCA had been working tirelessly since Sunday to facilitate the release of those taken hostage.
Results expected next week
The National Elections Authority (NEA) is expected to announce the preliminary results of the presidential election on January 5, 2026..
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
