The December 30 presidential and legislative elections have security, political and economic stakes.

The stakes of the December 30, 2015 presidential and legislative elections in the Central African Republic are high to the extent that the international community and citizens of the conflict-torn country are looking forward to its successful conduct. The future of the country indeed depends on the outcome of the elections.

Judging from the 30 candidates to the post of President of the Republic, there is clear indication of the yearning ambition of the people to return to constitutional democracy, peace and stability. The presidential election, whose second phase is slated for January 31, 2016, should no candidate win an absolute majority in the first round of the poll, will mark the end of the transition period. The elected leaders will take over from the transition government which Catherine Samba-Panza had led.

The election will be governed by provisions of the new Constitution which the people endorsed in the referendum of December 13. The new leaders will obviously complete the re-establishment of State institutions and control nationwide; ensure the functioning of the administration and reconstitution of the army. The fighting between the ex-Seleka and ant-Balaka rebel groups since 2013 and the intermittent attacks of the armed groups have rendered the country ungovernable.

Curbing Insecurity

The successful outcome of the elections will certainly attenuate the worsening security situation in the Central African Republic. The United Nations Multidimensional Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), French force, Sangaris and the national security officials have been fighting hard to curb rising insecurity in the country.  Despite the presence of these forces, insecurity still marked the constitutional referendum of December 13.

Voice of America cited the Red Cross as revealing that five people were killed and 20 injured in an attack with rocket launchers and machine guns in the flashpoint Muslim-majority PK-5 District of Bangui. A permanent government will help tackle secessionist tendencies like that of Nourreddine Adam who opposed the referendum. Prior to the referendum, he declared the autonomous State of the Republic of Logone in the north eastern part of the country.  For now, the UN is applying sanctions on perpetrators of insecurity.

The UN Security Council last Thursday sanctioned Haroun Gaye, head of the Popular Front for the Rebirth of Central Africa, an ex-Seleka armed group and Eugene Barret Ngikosset, faction leader of anti-Balaka. They have been slammed travel bans and their assets frozen.

Refugee Problem

The return to peace, stability and economic take off in the Central African Republic are what the new Head of State elected during the December 30 poll would set out to achieve. Once this happens, the atmosphere will be favourable for thousands of internally displaced people and refugees to return to their homes.

The report of the Central African Republic Regional Refugee Response Plan January – December 2015 reveals that since December 2013 when the wave of conflict, violence and destruction started in the country, more than 850,000 people remain displaced both inside and outside the country. The report further indicates that more than 197,000 refugees have fled to neighbouring countries in the last year, bringing the total number of Central African refugees in the region to over 400,000.