Bangui woke up on Sunday in astonishing calm.
The Central African capital feared the worst on this day of presidential and legislative elections after days of extreme tension and armed clashes across the country.
But the worst is never certain, even in Bangui.
Voters were therefore able to go to the polling stations and express themselves, forming long impatient lines.
“The process is not going so badly.
There is no mess.
We feel a certain emulation, ”
underlines an observer.
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The Central African Republic turns into violence on the eve of the general elections
The image is much more contrasted in the provinces.
For ten days, the armed groups, which control two-thirds of the country, have formed a new union, the Coalition of Patriots for the Central African Republic (CPC), with the stated aim of obstructing the elections, or even overthrowing the government. .
A strong reaction from the peacekeepers of the UN Mission (Minusca) and especially the arrival of reinforcements of Russian mercenaries and Rwandan troops made it possible to avoid the coup.
The fighting was heavy, claiming the lives of three peacekeepers.
But instability continued, and voting was sometimes impossible.
“
Overall, we were able to go to the polls in the North West and in the center very little.
In the South and the East, it seemed possible, at least in the cities ”
, provided a humanitarian at midday.
We think that the problems will be solved by a vote but in reality we do not deal with the substantive issues.
Nathalia Dukhan, researcher at the NGO The Sentry
In this situation, the opposition has long demanded that the ballot be postponed.
In vain.
President Faustin-Archange Touadéra maintained the planned date, supported by the entire international community.
The head of Minusca thus curiously assured that
"the conditions were met for a transparent election"
.
The European Union, which finances more than two-thirds of the cost of the process estimated at 30 million euros, did not protest either.
“For 1.8 million voters, it was already one of the most expensive elections in the world.
We could have been entitled to ask for a minimum ”,
squeals the representative of a lessor.
"Implausible" vote
However, participation promises to be very low, offering a result that is therefore questionable.
“This election is a scandal.
It will only create post-election troubles.
We think that the problems will be resolved by a vote but in reality we do not deal with the substantive issues, ”
laments Nathalia Dukhan, researcher at the NGO The Sentry.
For Thierry Vircoulon, analyst at Ifri, this
“improbable”
vote
is the result of the failings of the international community:
“The UN is a prisoner of its narrative which wants everything to have improved in the Central African Republic in recent years.
For the rest, Touadéra was able to take advantage of the climate of near-cold war between the Russians and the other actors, in particular France, to impose his views.
Suddenly, we end up financing a fraudulent process, which is totally paradoxical. ”
Paris has indeed seen its influence on this former colony collapse since Moscow came into play three years ago and does not seem able to find it again.
“France and the European Union have almost no interest in this country.
It was an opportunity to have an ambitious policy.
Only, there is no policy, “
accuses Roland Marchal, sociologist at Sciences Po.
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In the Central African Republic, Paris makes its voice heard in chaos
The results of the ballot are not expected for several days but few doubt that they are favorable to the outgoing president.
For months, his entourage has said that a victory in the first round is possible, the
“Coup Ko”,
letting polls filter very favorable to their champion.
“This 'Ko coup' would be dangerous and could turn into a 'chaos coup',”
one observer fears.