AFRICA/CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC - Climate of tension in Central Africa waiting for results of first round of presidential and legislative elections

Thursday, 17 March 2005

Bangui (Fides Service)- “The Central African Republic is in a climate of tension waiting for the results of the first round of legislative and presidential elections”, a local source in the capital Bangui, told Fides with regard to elections held on March 13.
“It was announced that the results will be made public in two weeks time and in the meantime tension is enflamed by polemic on the part of candidates who fear they collected few votes and there is also fear of reaction on the part of the losers” the sources told Fides.
“More than once the Catholic Church here has taken a position to defend democracy and peaceful coexistence. On several occasions Archbishop Paulin Pomodino Bangui has called on political parties to respect the rules of democracy and the Constitution” the sources recalled.
Yesterday 16 March, the leaders of outgoing President François Bozizé’s electoral campaign denounced the “antidemocratic manoeuvres” of opposition candidates who said they had discovered fraud and irregularities in the vote.
The electoral process which started last Sunday, should mark a turning point in Central African Republic struggling for stability after a period of instability since François Bozizé took power in March 200, at the end of the civil war fought against former President Ange-Félix Patassé. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 17/3/2005 righe 26 parole 266)


Share: