Central African Republic

Runoff in Central Africa: The laughing third is already fixed

On Sunday, selects the Central African Republic their President. In the first ballot, there was no clear winner, now follows the ballot. Both were already Prime Minister, and both of them are Ex-President Bozizé close.

Of the election campaign is in Bria, a town in the North of the country, not much to see: Only a few posters hang in the city, a single vehicle, one of the presidential candidates goes around and plays music. The people here want to choose, says DW’s correspondent on the scene, but their Concerns are other than the question of who their President will be. “We live in war,” says Vincent, in a mobile phone business works. “It is hardly possible, here, to live well.”

The elections are to the country from the civil war and the political instability that the Central African Republic for nearly three years to handle. Also, the deputies for the Parliament to be elected on Sunday. The parliamentary elections had in common with the first round of the presidential election already on the 30. December taken place. However, due to numerous irregularities had the constitutional court decided that you repeat.

Run-off election between the two Ex-Premiers

The top two finishers from the first round of the presidential election are politically not Unknown in the Central African Republic. With 23,78 per cent of the votes went to Ancient Georges Dologuélé as a winner from the first round. Dologuélé is in the people also under the nickname of “Mr. clean”. During his time as Prime Minister under then-President Ange-Félix Patassé, from 1998 to 2001, he made numerous public buildings repair. In 2001 he moved from the policy to the top of the African development Bank.

The “Mr. Clean”: Ancient Georges Dologuélé

2013 founded Dologuélé own party, the Union for the renewal of Central Africa (URCA), it rose for the first time as a presidential candidate. During the election campaign, he shied away from no cost and trouble; his posters were hung everywhere in the capital Bangui and its Wahlkampfveranstaltungen in the Hinterland secured him a large media attention. From head to foot in the Parteifarbe Blue dressed, he promoted to reconciliation. “I am 58 years old and have never had a weapon held in the Hand,” he said in a Muslim district of Banguis, one of the bloodiest scenes of the civil war was.

Support from the geschassten Ex-President

Only a few days before the election on 30. December said Ex-President François Bozizé Dologuélé officially its support. In March 2013, had the predominantly Muslim Séléka rebels, Bozizé from office geputscht; he fled first to Cameroon and lives in exile – where, precisely, is not known. Bozizé, in 2003, the result of a coup came to Power, is accused by the exile from the Christian and animist Anti-Balaka rebels have supported, the response to the revolt of the Séléka had formed. Fighters of both groups killed thousands of people and drove about a Million Zentralafrikaner in the escape. Until now, according to the United Nations (UN) drittärmste state of the world
again and again of serious violence are shaken.

The UN has sanctions against Bozizé imposed, the Central African Republic has an arrest warrant issued against him. The charge: genocide and crimes against humanity. Like all the other former presidents was also Bozizé is not in the first round of the presidential election race. Dologuélé, however, has already announced that, should he become President, a “place” for Bozizé will give – without this specify.

The Challenger: another Ex-Premier

Dologuélés Challenger in the planned run-off election is Faustin Archange Touadéra, 19,42 percent of the vote to unite was. Touadéra of the Zentralafrikanern as “the man, the officials of the salaries pays” estimated: From 2008 to 2013 he was Prime Minister under Bozizé. In this time he led, to civil servants in the Land of their salary on a Bank account – with the effect that your money will now be regularly received, and not more the fault had to, because payments did not materialize.

“The man, the officials of the salaries it pays”: Faustin Archange Touadéra

In 2008, he provided in one of the many conflicts that the country since 1960, suffered between the government, the Opposition, civil society and rebel movements, which in several peace accords have culminated. Since its independence from France is the history of the Central African Republic marked by bloody riots, powerless governments and Staatsstreichen. “I have seen with what enthusiasm the Zentralafrikaner go to vote,” said Touadéra after the announcement of preliminary election results. “This shows that the people want peace. So you want to political leader that you can trust. I am delighted that so many of my countrymen, my candidacy and my political program support.”

Bozizé wins or so

Touadéra, as his competitor Dologuélé 58 years old, is a mathematics Professor. His campaign Budget was comparatively low, during his presidential campaign, he was teaching still at the University of Bangui. Touadéra as parteiloser candidate into the race for the highest office. Until then, he had the Post of the Deputy Chairman of Bozizés party KNX positions. While Touadéra for most observers in the presidential election
as an outsider, was, is KNX-Secretary-General Bertin Béa little bit surprised about his election success: “It shows how strong the KNX here in the country”, as Béa in the DW-Interview. Although Touadéra as an independent candidate is taken up, have made him a lot of voters with Bozizé and his party. “He has Touadéra politically constructed. Would Bozizé self-election, he would have directly in the first round won. The Zentralafrikaner find that he was wrongfully from the office they hunted.”

He pulls the strings? Ex-President François Bozizé

Play so both candidates to the Ex-President in the hands? In the Exclusive Interview with Deutsche Welle said Bozizé in January: “the One, the I my support zusichere, will also win. This is well known.” But until today, he has not further commented. Bozizé has basically spoilt for choice – has won it in each case.

In Collaboration With: Eric Topona, Jeff Murphy Barès, Marc Caldwell