Ahead of the 28 December elections in the Central African Republic, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on citizens to participate peacefully in what he described as a critical moment for the country’s democratic and peacebuilding process. He urged national authorities to ensure that the polls are conducted in a peaceful, orderly, inclusive, and credible manner, while appealing to political actors and stakeholders to avoid actions that could incite violence or undermine public confidence in the electoral process. The Secretary-General also emphasized the need to uphold the rule of law, human rights, and fundamental freedoms throughout the electoral period.
The upcoming vote is unprecedented in scale, combining presidential, legislative, regional, and municipal elections in a single nationwide exercise. Municipal elections, which have not taken place in the country since 1988, are a central component of the 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation. The UN chief has described their organization as a historic milestone that could strengthen decentralization and extend state authority beyond the capital, Bangui.
The elections are taking place in a complex and fragile context. The Central African Republic continues to face armed violence, weak institutions, and limited state presence in many regions, despite progress made since the 2019 peace agreement. Ongoing insecurity, fragile public services, and extreme weather have contributed to a severe humanitarian situation, with millions in need of assistance and large numbers of people displaced both internally and across borders.
Geographic and logistical challenges further complicate the process. The country’s vast size, difficult terrain, and limited infrastructure mean that many communities outside the capital are accessible only by air or long journeys over poorly maintained roads. These conditions make the delivery of election materials and the organization of polling particularly demanding.
In this context, the United Nations has played a key role in supporting the electoral process. The UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic, MINUSCA, has worked closely with national authorities and other UN agencies to provide extensive logistical and security assistance. This has included transporting sensitive electoral materials such as ballot papers, voter lists, and indelible ink to thousands of voting centres across the country, including remote and hard-to-reach areas.
MINUSCA has deployed its full fleet of aircraft and helicopters, escorted secure ground convoys, and provided temporary storage facilities for election materials in coordination with the National Elections Authority. The mission has also supported civic education and voter awareness initiatives aimed at preventing electoral violence and encouraging adherence to a code of conduct by political actors. More than 2.39 million registered voters, including over 1.14 million women, are expected to take part in the vote, underscoring the significance of the elections for the country’s future.
