According to MINUSCA, preliminary reports from observers indicate that over 99 percent of polling stations nationwide opened as scheduled on Election Day.
The transfer of result envelopes from 19 prefectural capitals to the national capital, Bangui, is currently ongoing, supported logistically and securely by the mission.
The December 28 vote was an unprecedented event in the country’s political history, combining four ballots into a single electoral exercise. Notably, municipal elections have not been held in the Central African Republic (CAR) since 1988 and are a crucial element of the 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation.
The CAR, a vast, sparsely populated landlocked country, is characterized by dense forests, rivers, and long, often impassable roads. Outside Bangui, many communities can only be accessed by plane or multi-day journeys.
Ballots are counted under flashlights after the elections in the Central African Republic.
Massive UN Support for a Complex Operation
MINUSCA announced it worked closely with national authorities and United Nations agencies to aid the electoral process, ensuring all voting materials were delivered on time despite challenging terrain and security issues.
The mission conducted 84 flights and eight road convoys to transport over 230 tonnes of electoral materials, including ballots, indelible ink, voter cards, voting booths, and ballot boxes.
Election supplies reached 6,679 of the country’s 6,700 polling stations, enabling them to function normally in 20 prefectures.
Technically and operationally, around 34,500 individuals, including election officials, supervisors, and polling station staff, received training with UN support.
Security Measures
Poll security was enhanced by deploying additional national troops and police, with logistical support from MINUSCA, alongside reinforced patrols by UN peacekeepers and police personnel.
The mission also provided Central African armed forces and internal security personnel with vehicles and motorcycles to access remote and isolated areas.
Speaking at a press conference in Bangui, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the CAR, Valentine Rugwabiza, stated that the mission had successfully executed its mandate despite a challenging environment.
UN peacekeepers patrol a voting center in the capital Bangui during the elections.
Incident in Haut-Mbomou
Ms. Rugwabiza strongly condemned an attack in Bambouti, in the southeastern Haut-Mbomou prefecture near the South Sudan border, which halted voting due to insecurity.
The attack, carried out by the armed group Azandé Ani Kpi Gbe (AAKG), involved hostage-taking, including the sub-prefect.
She mentioned MINUSCA has been diligently working since Sunday to secure the hostages’ release.
Results Expected Next Week
The National Elections Authority (NEA) is set to announce the preliminary presidential election results on January 5, 2026.
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