The United Nations Independent Expert on the human rights situation in the Central African Republic has issued a call for critical reforms within the nation’s electoral authority. The appeal underscores crucial operational, legal, and budgetary issues plaguing the National Elections Authority (ANE), according to statements from Yao Agbetse, the UN expert responsible for monitoring the situation.
With the country’s constitution mandating the conduct of presidential and legislative elections within specific timeframes in 2025, the ANE’s inefficiencies present significant challenges. The institution is grappling with internal dysfunction, casting doubt over its ability to meet these deadlines. Moreover, local elections, which are a part of the transitional justice process but have faced multiple postponements since 2022, are now critical.
The financial aspect of the electoral process presents further complications. Recent adjustments by the ANE set the budget for local elections at $21.8 million, a rise from the initial $19 million, as noted in a recent report. While the UN Development Programme (UNDP) has committed $12.4 million, the ANE is tasked with securing $9.4 million, leaving a funding gap of approximately $9 million.
The voter registration process also faces significant hurdles, including technical anomalies such as omissions of voter names, which jeopardizes the timely execution of the local elections scheduled in August. As the situation stands, reports indicate that authorities are contemplating combining these local elections with the legislative and presidential elections in December as a possible contingency plan.
Amidst these challenges, the political landscape in the Central African Republic continues to evolve. In a recent referendum in 2023, voters overwhelmingly decided to abolish the presidential term limit, a move that allows President Faustin-Archange Touadéra to pursue re-election in December 2025, and potentially extend his presidency without term restrictions, as captured in recent observations.
The call for reform by Yao Agbetse highlights the urgent need for structural changes within the ANE to ensure that the nation can uphold democratic principles, maintain electoral integrity, and fulfill its constitutional obligations. To read more about this development, visit the JURIST report.