French warplanes have flown over the Central African Republic (CAR) today, i.e., Saturday, January 9, 2021, for the first time after the disputed Presidential polls led to violence in the region in December 2020.
The act marks France’s solidarity with the Central African people and its condemnation of the continued attempts to destabilize the country by armed groups.
The warplanes were flown at the request of the President of CAR – Faustin-Archange Touadera and with permission of the United Nations (U.N.) peacekeeping mission United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSCA) in the country.
Earlier on December 27, 2020, Touadera was declared the winner of the polls with more than 50% votes cast in a single round, avoiding a runoff against any of 16 challengers. Post this, opposition candidates demanded the election be annulled and for the vote to be repeated, citing irregularities and low turnout following violent clashes.
The electoral commission declared Touadera the winner with a voter turnout of more than 76%. However, only half the country’s 1.8 million eligible voters were able to register to vote due to the rebel offensive.
France has a history of repeated military interventions in CAR, most recently from 2013-2016. The U.N. maintains nearly 13,000 peacekeepers there. The President of France – Emmanuel Macron had condemned the acts of violence in Car with Touadera over phone.
The official twitter handle of French President – Elysee tweeted, “The President @EmmanuelMacron met with the President of the Central African Republic. He reiterated his strong condemnation of the attempts of armed groups and some political leaders to undermine peace agreements and the electoral process.”
Le Président @EmmanuelMacron s’est entretenu avec le Président de la République centrafricaine. Il a réitéré sa ferme condamnation des tentatives des groupes armés et de certains leaders politiques de saper les accords de paix et le processus électoral.https://t.co/2XAqzjraFF
— Élysée (@Elysee) January 9, 2021
During the call, Macron condemned criticised the Former President of CAR – François Bozize for undermining the peace in the region. He even condemned the false speeches intended to harm the Franco-Central African relationship. Macron and Touadera also renewed their support for the elements of MINUSCA, to contribute to the protection of civilians, the electoral process and the stabilization of the country.
MINUSCA Spokesman – Abdoulaziz Fall said that Government forces were attacked by armed men in the Western city of Bouar, which is 340 kms. from the capital Bangui. U.N. peacekeepers who came to the aid of the Government troops had laned in trouble themselves.
It is to be noted that in November 2020, 6 of the armed rebel groups who control 2/3rd of the country, had announced an alliance against Touadera’s government. They had launched a series of attacks in a bid to disrupt the presidential and legislative elections.
Bozize was removed in 2013 by mainly Muslim Seleka rebels, prompting reprisals from mostly Christian militias and plunging the CAR into a civil war. Touadera, who was the Prime Minister under Bozize’s regime, was first elected in 2016. While he has signed an agreement with armed groups in 2019 to ensure peace in the region, his efforts have failed.
