缅北禁地

United Nations peacekeepers were out in force at polling stations throughout the Central African Republic (CAR) today as the country voted in presidential and legislative elections, a major step on the path to stability after two years of conflict between Muslims and Christians.

Military and police units from the 11,000-strong 缅北禁地Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in CAR () joined soldiers from the French Sangaris force and local security teams in 鈥渁 strategy of pre-emption, prevention and reaction to anticipate, prevent and react against all imponderables and all risks,鈥� the Mission reported in its latest bulletin.

The 缅北禁地has played a major role in seeking to restore peace after fighting between the mainly Muslim S茅l茅ka and mainly Christian anti-Balaka groups erupted in early 2013, in which thousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands more forced from their homes.

Yesterday,听听Ban Ki-moon took to CAR鈥檚 radio waves to appeal for a massive turn-out in the polls. 鈥淭he upcoming elections are a historical moment for your country,鈥� he said in French on today鈥檚 first round of the polls.

鈥淣ever before have so many central Africans registered to vote,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 call on every one of you to use your right to vote without letting others preventing you from expressing yourselves peacefully. The Organisation of the United Nations will stand by you during this critical time.鈥�

In a later听听issued by his spokesman, he called on all national stakeholders to commit themselves to ensuring that the elections are conducted in a peaceful and credible manner, saying he was encouraged to see that almost two million people have registered to vote 鈥渋n a clear demonstration of the population鈥檚 engagement to exercise their democratic franchise.鈥�

He pledged the UN鈥檚 commitment to do everything possible in cooperation with the national authorities to prevent any possible disruption of the electoral process, and urged all political stakeholders to work closely with MINUSCA in this regard, calling on them to resolve disputes that may arise from the elections through legal and peaceful means.

He also commended the Transitional Authorities for organizing the referendum on a new Constitution earlier this month 鈥渦nder very challenging political, financial, logistical and security conditions,鈥� and reiterated continued 缅北禁地commitment to assist CAR towards a future of peace and stability.

After nine months of improved stability earlier this year a new wave of inter-communal violence erupted in September, killing at least 130 people, injuring 430 others, and triggering an 18 per cent increase in the number of internally displaced persons to 447,500.

On 11 December, 缅北禁地High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra鈥檃d Al Hussein voiced deep concern at mounting sectarian language, warning of possible 鈥渄ramatic consequences鈥� given the highly volatile pre-election atmosphere. In late November, Pope Francis visited CAR鈥檚 capital, Bangui, visiting churches and a mosque and appealing for inter-communal peace.