Panafrican News Agency

Voter registration starts in Central African Republic

New York, US (PANA) - The second and third phases of voter registrations are underway in the Central African Republic (CAR), supported by the UN peacekeeping mission there, MINUSCA.

The campaign will cover nine of the country’s 20 prefectures and overseas centres.

“Our peacekeeping mission has actively contributed to the launch of the operations by providing logistical support, including the deployment of equipment by plane from Bangui to the regions as well as several hundred electoral agents,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters at the regular news briefing in New York.

Peacekeepers are also helping secure the process by deploying to tense areas to enable all Central Africans to have access to registration centres, he added.

Mission personnel also escorted road convoys carrying registration kits as well as electoral staff. They are also working in collaboration with UN Women to increase the number of women on the voter list by facilitating the issuance of identity documents.

The voter registration exercise precedes local, legislative and presidential elections scheduled for later this year and in 2026, according to UN News.

The local elections – to be held for the first time in nearly 40 years – are a key component of CAR's Peace Agreement and offer a unique opportunity for enhanced governance at the local level, Mr. Dujarric said.

-0- PANA MA 15March2025