Central Africa: “The elections were ill-prepared”

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Central African Republic

Central Africa: “The elections were ill-prepared”

The constitutional court in the Central African Republic, the parliamentary elections are declared invalid. A correct decision, say representatives of the civil society. The elections were to be hastily been organized.

Deutsche Welle: While the Central African Republic on
the next round of presidential elections
prepared, has the constitutional court, the parliamentary elections are declared invalid. Reason were numerous irregularities in the vote from the 30. December. Mr. Lakosso, you will find that the court has decided correctly?

Gervais Lakosso: Yes, it was a good decision, because there were 414 objections, the irregularities appear to have. This is simply not to be overlooked. The
Parliamentary elections were very poorly organized.
The presidential elections, too.

Do you think that the decision of the constitutional court demonstrates not only that the elections were ill-prepared goods, but also that the country was not yet ready?

Yes, but the high voter turnout has also been shown that the population in the elections wanted the wishes for peace and new politicians from these elections is to emerge. But the interim government has the pressure of the international community felt and the elections to be hastily prepared. This has also meant that two competent members of the electoral Commission to resign had.

But the President of the interim government has set a date for the elections but completely independently determined.

There has been much pressure exerted on them. That is why the elections quickly organized. Every Time you have an extension of time is sought, it was rejected on the grounds that she was looking for an excuse to have longer to stay in Power. Even the proposed schedule of election Commission was rejected. The final electoral calendar was
from the foreign dictates.
If the international community is all prescribes, then it may simply not work.

If you pressure speak, of what country are you talking about?

In the first line of France and some neighbouring countries, such as Chad. There is the President to an international Sender said it would be better, bad choices to have as a shaky interim government. Today, we suffer from this interference, and due to the bad organization, had the constitutional court, the elections cancel. You should have the elections must be performed in succession. The cost would have been similar.

The turnout was 79 percent higher than generally expected

Would be the Central African Republic today, where it is, without the support of the international community? The situation seems to calm down.

Caution – we do not deny the support of the international community. But the relative calm in the country has to do with the fact that the national army their duties has resumed. As long as the peacekeepers acting alone, came to the country not to rest. It was only when the army was added, the Situation in the capital, Bangui, and indirectly in other cities calmed down. We are not ungrateful to the international community, but you have to things when you name call. The soldiers of the UN and the French Mission Sangaris’ are only in armored cars through the main streets of Bangui dangers. It was the army, the dangerous district has protected. And until today, you alone are entitled to ID cards and papers to control the may, the international soldiers did not.

The Central African Republic, the financial resources for a new election?

I think that the Central African Republic the Central opening. But the Parliament is his work, not at the same time with the new President. The work of the Parliament is delayed. Officially, we have two months for the organization of elections, but I’m not sure if we as fast the means to secure, especially since we are in two weeks and also the second round of the presidential election have to organize. Everything will cost more than planned, and the funds would have national and international in view.

Up to the elections remains the Übergangsparlament in the office

The Zentralafrikaner complain to the international pressure, especially from France. However, take the money of these countries like when it comes to elections.

The Central African Republic is part of the world and if a country in difficulty device, is it normal for him to be helped. Even countries that have no difficulty to get funds from the international community. But what is disturbing is that the donor countries think they are likely, therefore, to interfere with it. This complicates the situation even more. In the past, the Central African Republic also neighbouring countries helped. The country was not always in crisis.

Gervais Lakosso is one of the most important activists of the Central African civil society and coordinator of the civil Association “Groupe de Travail de la Société Civile”. He is known for his previous work as a singer, storyteller and Director.

The interview was conducted Fréjus Quénum.