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Dadparvar
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Human Rights Watch on Friday issued a warning that growing irregularities, political interference and security pressures threaten to compromise the credibility and inclusiveness of the upcoming general elections in the Central African Republic (CAR), scheduled for December 28.
The warning comes against a backdrop of political manoeuvring in the CAR. In a 2023 constitutional referendum, presidential term-limits were abolished, which opened the path for incumbent President Faustin-Archange Touadéra to seek a third consecutive term. The changes shaped by the 2023 constitutional overhaul, triggered widespread criticism from opposition parties who were banned from protesting against the referendum and the new constitution.
Only in recent weeks have two formerly barred opposition figures, former prime ministers Anicet-Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra, been reinstated as candidates. Although a positive development, HRW observes that persistent administrative manoeuvring continues to disadvantage the challengers.
Furthermore, HRW raised serious doubts about the logistical readiness and impartiality of the electoral process. According to the organization, the National Elections Authority (ANE) appears to suffer from incomplete voter lists, insufficiently trained polling staff, supply-chain problems, and weak capacity, especially in rural areas. The country has not held fully functioning local elections in a decade, and previous national polls have unfolded under intense security pressures and heavy international involvement. This could disproportionately disadvantage voters outside the capital, and raise the risk that turnout will skew in favor of urban or government-aligned areas.
The UN has repeatedly cautioned that political dialogue remains fragile, with armed groups controlling large areas outside Bangui and state institutions struggling to operate beyond the capital.
Adding onto these institutional failures is the deteriorating security in the region. Long-standing conflict between government forces and armed groups continue to threaten the safety of civilians and displace civilians, limiting their capacity to exercise voting rights safely. Civil society actors, journalists and opposition affiliates reportedly face harassment and intimidation.
Moreover, as the country prepares for these elections, the drawdown of parts of the MINUSCA (the UN peacekeeping mission in the CAR) which have often played a vital role in election logistics and oversight raises further concern on the credibility and safety of the polls.
International partners and observers have been urged to closely monitor the elections, and reconsider the drawdown of international peacekeeping forces.
The post Rights group warns upcoming Central African Republic elections face integrity threats appeared first on JURIST - News.
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The warning comes against a backdrop of political manoeuvring in the CAR. In a 2023 constitutional referendum, presidential term-limits were abolished, which opened the path for incumbent President Faustin-Archange Touadéra to seek a third consecutive term. The changes shaped by the 2023 constitutional overhaul, triggered widespread criticism from opposition parties who were banned from protesting against the referendum and the new constitution.
Only in recent weeks have two formerly barred opposition figures, former prime ministers Anicet-Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra, been reinstated as candidates. Although a positive development, HRW observes that persistent administrative manoeuvring continues to disadvantage the challengers.
Furthermore, HRW raised serious doubts about the logistical readiness and impartiality of the electoral process. According to the organization, the National Elections Authority (ANE) appears to suffer from incomplete voter lists, insufficiently trained polling staff, supply-chain problems, and weak capacity, especially in rural areas. The country has not held fully functioning local elections in a decade, and previous national polls have unfolded under intense security pressures and heavy international involvement. This could disproportionately disadvantage voters outside the capital, and raise the risk that turnout will skew in favor of urban or government-aligned areas.
The UN has repeatedly cautioned that political dialogue remains fragile, with armed groups controlling large areas outside Bangui and state institutions struggling to operate beyond the capital.
Adding onto these institutional failures is the deteriorating security in the region. Long-standing conflict between government forces and armed groups continue to threaten the safety of civilians and displace civilians, limiting their capacity to exercise voting rights safely. Civil society actors, journalists and opposition affiliates reportedly face harassment and intimidation.
Moreover, as the country prepares for these elections, the drawdown of parts of the MINUSCA (the UN peacekeeping mission in the CAR) which have often played a vital role in election logistics and oversight raises further concern on the credibility and safety of the polls.
International partners and observers have been urged to closely monitor the elections, and reconsider the drawdown of international peacekeeping forces.
The post Rights group warns upcoming Central African Republic elections face integrity threats appeared first on JURIST - News.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.