The organization of elections in Central Africa, a challenge

Bangui, Special Envoy - Twice postponed, long uncertain legislative and presidential elections in Central African Republic (CAR) must ultimately be held Sunday, Jan. 23 amid protest before the vote is to be held. This is not a surprise in this country of 4.8 million where political violence is recurrent since independence in 1960 and where all social economic indicators are in the red.

"The health and education systems are nonexistent or nearly so, says an official of the NGO Action against Hunger. Because of malaria, AIDS, malnutrition, tuberculosis and displacement of tens of thousands of people caused by rebel groups, life expectancy fell below 40. " According to the Human Development Index published in 2009 by the United Nations, the country ranked 179th out of 182.

Economically, CAR performs little better. Corruption and misappropriation of funds, which do not spare the distribution of antiretroviral drugs, affecting all strata of society. Organize elections in a country desperate, as big as France and Belgium combined, was already a challenge in itself.

Especially as the authority of the central government is challenged by a multitude of armed groups, rebel movements or simple bandits. Among the most threatening, include the Popular Front for the rehabilitation (RPF), composed of Chadian rebels raging in the north, the Convention Patriots for Justice and Peace (PJCC) in the Northwest, and Resistance Army (LRA) who sow terror throughout the country is slaughtering entire village populations and enlisting child soldiers.

In 2008, political dialogue had given birth to a comprehensive peace agreement between government and armed groups. "But the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) established for this purpose has not had the desired outcome for financial reasons, wrote in a report issued in late December of Elsa, a South African NGO assistance election.

The CAR is today a safe and more insecure and more disturbing. " Three of the five presidential candidates have known for some time. Patassé, former president (1993-2003), finds Martin Ziguele, who was his prime minister, and especially Francois Bozize, who robbed him of the power in a coup before being elected in 2005 .

Francois Bozize of the quinquennium, leader of KNK (for Kwa na Kwa language sango, which means "the work just work"), was completed last April. The elections would be held in the wake, but for reasons of security and logistics, have been postponed twice. After weeks of haggling and tensions, the president has finally set the date to January 23.

"Francois Bozize has launched into a race against the clock," says one entrepreneur. He did everything to fulfill this commitment, partly because it's the credibility with the international community and donors. Meanwhile, the opposition is poorly organized, had an interest in slowing this process.

" Enumeration, computerized lists, distribution of voter cards or for applications ... The controversy has grown. "The publication of lists that identify all voters had fallen far behind despite a tripling of the initial population to establish it, and says one observer. The members of the CIS were receiving a daily allowance and they also wanted to save time.

21 December, the army landed and kidnapped all the world to accelerate the work. The government has delivered chicken and coffee! Two days later, the lists were completed and the CIS members are released unharmed. " Logistics aside, he also had to hurry. Nearly 7,000 ballot boxes have been recovered in Togo in December.

A British printer won the tender for the printing of ballot papers but the London airport was closed due to the cold snap, we had to find another one. It's in a hurry, Dubai, what finally been printed newsletters Central. To respect the electoral code and avoid all possible cancellation of the vote, they should be sent before January 8 in the 4500 polls (with the ballot boxes, posters, booths, billboards ...) on rutted tracks laterite, and under the threat of armed groups.

To facilitate the movement of election materials across the country, former rebel leaders were appointed as advisors to the Chair. These problems almost resolved, the vote is already being contested. Patassé has filed an action for annulment "for non-compliance with the Electoral Code regarding the deadline for the publication of polls, the appointment of chairmen of these offices and the display of voter lists." "We are looking lice in the head! replied Francois Bozize, Friday, January 21 on Radio France Internationale.'s time to go for elections.

Things are done transparently, without mess! I do not believe in defeat ... " Pierre Lepidi

• Central African Republic holds presidential vote (23/01/2011)
• Africa Blog Roundup: Mobile Phones, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenyan Drought, Sudan, and More (23/01/2011)
• Delays as Central African Rep heads to polls (23/01/2011)
• Polls open for Central African Republic elections (23/01/2011)
• Factbox: Central African Republic, land of diamonds and poverty (23/01/2011)

Central African Republic (geolocation)  Central African Republic (wikipedia)