Fora have held and structures put in place to facilitate return to peace, stability and democracy in the Central African Republic. The transitional government headed by Catherine Samba-Panza and the international community led by the United Nations Organisation (UNO), have been working tooth and nail to end the conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR)  and reinstate, peace, stability, growth and democracy in the country. Despite the tireless efforts, improvement is yet to be perceptible.  The return to normal life in the CAR is apparently staggering.

Reinstatement of Administration

Eloi Anguimaté, the Minister of the Public Service in the Central African Republic in describing the destruction caused by Michel Djotodia’s Seleka rebel group when they ousted François Bozize in March 2013 said, “We thought it was a coup d’état”. To further illustrate the degree of damage, he said that a coup d’état is when institutions are maintained and the administration used to forge ahead.

He said that the Seleka rebels who got to the capital Bangui on March 24, 2013, did not have the administration as their base but rather contributed in destroying it.  Indeed, with the Seleka takeover, the country became ungovernable with State structures completely reduced to nothing. The Christian-dominated Anti-balaka armed group formed to combat Seleka further complicated matters. The frequent clashes between the two armed groups have made the reinstatement of the administration difficult.

The French force, (Sangaris), UN Mission (MINUSCA) and the European Union force (Eufor) have been working hard to end the conflict in the country. These foreign forces are working with the local security forces to first of all ensure reinstatement of the administration throughout the country. The Seleka militia destroyed schools, hospitals, and municipal councils. 

For 2015, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Coalition for Education, the Ministry of Education and other partners are working hard to reopen 247 schools, 30 of them in the capital Bangui. Report says that by the close of the last school year in July 2014, 60 per cent of the schools in the country were closed. Following United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) recent report, only nine per cent of the civil servants are effectively working and half of the administrative units have no archives.

Electoral Process

When the transitional authorities came to power in the country, they announced the end of the transition process with the holding of general elections in February 2015.  The elections time was later postponed by six months and the elections body, National Elections Authority (ANE) recently postponed the elections to August 2015.

The progress recorded in the electoral process is the growing interest manifested by political party candidates, independent candidates and the two rival armed groups, Seleka and Anti-balaka that have also created political parties ready to run for the various elections. The ANE initially programmed biometric process to ensure transparency and credibility but, from every indication the technology will not be used. Modibo Bachir Walidou, Territorial Administration Minister recently said that the country and its partners would not be able to bear the cost. Due to other difficulties, it is apparently clear that only presidential and legislative elections will take place.

Political Consensus

Transition President, Catherine Samba-Panza on January 7, 2015 appointed members of the commission set up to prepare the Bangui reconciliation forum. The Minister of Reconciliation Political Dialogue and Civic Culture, Jeannette Detoua while responding to protests from some members of the Diaspora on the constitution of the preparatory commission, invited everyone to the forum. The upcoming forum will be one of the numerous attempts to reinstate peace and political stability in the country. The first forum was that of Brazzaville that called for a stop to hostilities by armed groups and another inclusive dialogue in Bangui.