CAR opposition calls for election delay due to violence
December 22, 2020
Central African Republic’s (CAR) main opposition coalition on Sunday demanded the December 27 election be postponed due to violence by armed groups outside the capital Bangui, but the government insisted the vote would go ahead.
On Saturday, the authorities accused former President Francois Bozize of plotting a coup after his candidacy was rejected. United Nations (UN) peacekeepers also dispersed armed rebel groups occupying roads and towns near Bangui.
Fighting was going on in several towns, including Mbaiki, about 100 km (62 miles) from Bangui on Sunday, according to one security source and two humanitarian sources.
Rebels in the Central African Republic have seized Bambari, the country’s fourth-largest city, five days before nationwide elections, according to the local mayor, government and UN sources.
“The town is under the control of armed groups,” Bambari Mayor Abel Matchipata said on Tuesday, while a senior government official confirmed “they are in the town, we are waiting for reinforcements, which are on their way”.
The attack follows the government’s accusations at the weekend that former president Francois Bozize was seeking to mount a coup with armed groups before upcoming elections.
At CAR’s request, Russia and Rwanda have sent military personnel to support the troubled country.
BBC News
Published
image captionPrivate Russian security guards have been providing security to the government
Russia has sent an additional 300 military instructors to the Central African Republic (CAR) to deal with what its foreign ministry calls a sharp degradation of security .
It said the CAR government, which is threatened by rebel groups ahead of Sunday s presidential election, had asked for help.
Former President François Bozizé denies plotting a coup.
UN peacekeepers have said the rebel advance has been halted.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said the Russian military was not involved in fighting in the CAR and that the military instructors were not the army nor the special forces .
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