The United Nations (UN) mission has signed a new plan for election security represents a major development for peaceful, inclusive elections in the Central African Republic (CAR).
UN Spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, disclosed this to journalists on Wednesday while briefing on activities of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
“We have an update from our peacekeeping mission in there, otherwise known as MINUSCA, which co-signed an integrated plan for the security of elections.
“That plan was signed yesterday (Tuesday) with Prime Minister Felix Moloua and the President of the National Authority for Elections, Mathias Barthélémy Morouba.
“That plan would enable the timely holding of peaceful and inclusive local elections for the first time since 1988,’’ he said.
According to him, the UN Mission continues to raise awareness of the elections and promote peace among local communities and authorities.
“The mission is promoting peace in communities, notably in Haute-Kotto, Ouham, and Ouandja-Kotto prefectures, and it has provided specialized training on the protection of civilians to 25 defense and security forces operating in those regions.
“Over the past week, the security situation remained tense, with explosive device incidents reported in the western part of the Central African Republic.”
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Dujarric said the peacekeeping mission had conducted 2,015 patrols, maintaining a robust posture in the Basse Kotto, Haute-Kotto, and Nana-Mambéré prefectures to ensure the protection of civilians.
Meanwhile, UN mission spokesperson Vladimir Monteiro said the security plan represents “an essential tool”, paving the way for the coming local elections.
“Voters will be casting ballots in local elections for the first time since 1988.
“The Government of CAR and MINUSCA signed a new plan on Tuesday amid recent flaring tensions.
“The new election security plan outlines the path towards first local elections in the Central African Republic since 1988,’’ Monteiro said in a statement.
The Security Council authorized the peacekeeping mission in 2014, following concerns with the security, humanitarian, human rights, and political crisis roiling the country, and its regional implications.
The mission’s priority is the protection of civilians.
