UN chief calls for peaceful Central African Republic vote

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday called for peaceful and credible elections in the Central African Republic. The presidential and parliamentary vote on Wednesday will test the country’s progress toward stability after a coup in 2013 unleashed a wave of violence.

Ban urged “all national stakeholders to commit themselves to ensuring that the elections are conducted in a peaceful and credible manner,” said a statement from his spokesman.

Ban pointed to some two million people on the voting rolls as a “clear demonstration of the population’s engagement to exercise their democratic franchise.”

The 11,000-strong UN MINUSCA mission is working to boost security and prevent “any possible disruption to the election process,” he added.

Ban urged all politicians to resolve disputes that may arise from the elections through legal and peaceful means.

The elections have been delayed several times, with the latest date set for Sunday pushed back to allow for preparations.

Thirty candidates are running for the presidency but three are seen as front runners including a Muslim who has served as foreign minister.

UM– USEKE.RW