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| Central African Republic Elections, Long Delayed, Are Held Peacefully | Central African Republic Elections, Long Delayed, Are Held Peacefully |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| BANGUI, Central African Republic — Citizens of the Central African Republic began casting ballots on Wednesday in long-delayed elections that represent the best hope of reuniting the country, one of the world’s poorest, after three years of sectarian violence that has displaced hundreds of thousands of people. | BANGUI, Central African Republic — Citizens of the Central African Republic began casting ballots on Wednesday in long-delayed elections that represent the best hope of reuniting the country, one of the world’s poorest, after three years of sectarian violence that has displaced hundreds of thousands of people. |
| Heavy turnout was expected among the country’s 1.8 million registered voters, nearly 40 percent of the population, and stores were largely closed so that workers could cast their ballots, a process that usually takes hours. | Heavy turnout was expected among the country’s 1.8 million registered voters, nearly 40 percent of the population, and stores were largely closed so that workers could cast their ballots, a process that usually takes hours. |
| Many lined up outside schools and other polling stations well before they opened at 6 a.m., as United Nations peacekeepers from Burundi, France, Mauritania, Pakistan and other countries, along with 40 election monitors from the African Union, kept watch. | Many lined up outside schools and other polling stations well before they opened at 6 a.m., as United Nations peacekeepers from Burundi, France, Mauritania, Pakistan and other countries, along with 40 election monitors from the African Union, kept watch. |
| “The voting has begun and is taking place with order and discipline,” the roughly 12,000-member United Nations peacekeeping force, known as Minusca, said on Twitter. | “The voting has begun and is taking place with order and discipline,” the roughly 12,000-member United Nations peacekeeping force, known as Minusca, said on Twitter. |
| Thirty candidates are running for president in the first round of voting, and elections are also being held for Parliament. Because of technical and organizational problems, the vote, scheduled for February, was postponed until June, then October, to this past Sunday and finally to Wednesday. | |
| In a referendum on Dec. 13 and 14 that had also been delayed, voters overwhelmingly approved a new Constitution, clearing the way for the elections and raising hopes for lasting peace. | In a referendum on Dec. 13 and 14 that had also been delayed, voters overwhelmingly approved a new Constitution, clearing the way for the elections and raising hopes for lasting peace. |
| Last month, Pope Francis visited the capital, Bangui, expressing hope that the elections would “enable the country to embark serenely on a new chapter of its history.” He shocked residents by touring PK5, a volatile, largely Muslim neighborhood that is normally surrounded by armed Christian militias. | Last month, Pope Francis visited the capital, Bangui, expressing hope that the elections would “enable the country to embark serenely on a new chapter of its history.” He shocked residents by touring PK5, a volatile, largely Muslim neighborhood that is normally surrounded by armed Christian militias. |
| In recent days, the archbishop of Bangui, Dieudonné Nzapalainga, and a Muslim leader, Omar Kobine Layama, appealed for peaceful elections. | In recent days, the archbishop of Bangui, Dieudonné Nzapalainga, and a Muslim leader, Omar Kobine Layama, appealed for peaceful elections. |
| The voting on Wednesday seemed largely free of violence, though logistical problems persisted. In the courtyard of a school in PK5, voters shouted angrily because bureaucratic delays had blocked the arrival of some election materials. | The voting on Wednesday seemed largely free of violence, though logistical problems persisted. In the courtyard of a school in PK5, voters shouted angrily because bureaucratic delays had blocked the arrival of some election materials. |
| “I am a Central African and have the right to vote!” one voter, who gave only his first name, Mahamat, shouted at peacekeepers and election observers. Another yelled, “Are they trying to manipulate us, to prevent us from voting?” | “I am a Central African and have the right to vote!” one voter, who gave only his first name, Mahamat, shouted at peacekeepers and election observers. Another yelled, “Are they trying to manipulate us, to prevent us from voting?” |
| Illiteracy is rampant in the country, and many of those overseeing the election received only a day or two of training. Voter registration cards were issued by the election authority, but many contained inaccurate information, according to several people. | Illiteracy is rampant in the country, and many of those overseeing the election received only a day or two of training. Voter registration cards were issued by the election authority, but many contained inaccurate information, according to several people. |
| Marie-Madeleine N’kouet Hoornaert, the president of the National Election Authority, said in a statement on Wednesday that some poll workers were blocking access to election documents and materials in an attempt to disrupt the voting. | Marie-Madeleine N’kouet Hoornaert, the president of the National Election Authority, said in a statement on Wednesday that some poll workers were blocking access to election documents and materials in an attempt to disrupt the voting. |
| She called on them to “immediately stop all attempts to undermine the aspirations of almost two million Central Africans who want to express themselves unequivocally and help their country to end its crisis, via the ballot box.” | She called on them to “immediately stop all attempts to undermine the aspirations of almost two million Central Africans who want to express themselves unequivocally and help their country to end its crisis, via the ballot box.” |
| The balloting offers the country a chance for stability after years of turmoil. In December 2012, fighting among Muslim and Christian factions upended the country’s political situation. In March 2013, a mostly Muslim rebel alliance known as the Seleka overthrew President François Bozizé, a Christian, who had himself taken power in a civil war a decade earlier. | The balloting offers the country a chance for stability after years of turmoil. In December 2012, fighting among Muslim and Christian factions upended the country’s political situation. In March 2013, a mostly Muslim rebel alliance known as the Seleka overthrew President François Bozizé, a Christian, who had himself taken power in a civil war a decade earlier. |
| One of the rebel leaders, Michel Djotodia, became president, the first Muslim to hold the position. But he failed to deliver on his promise of a peaceful transition to a unity government and resigned in January 2014. | One of the rebel leaders, Michel Djotodia, became president, the first Muslim to hold the position. But he failed to deliver on his promise of a peaceful transition to a unity government and resigned in January 2014. |
| By then, Christian militias known as the “anti-balaka” had begun a brutal backlash against Muslim civilians. Nearly one million people were displaced, and 2.7 million, nearly half the population, needed humanitarian support, a huge setback for what was an already-poor country. More than 400,000 refugees — primarily in neighboring Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chad — have yet to return. | By then, Christian militias known as the “anti-balaka” had begun a brutal backlash against Muslim civilians. Nearly one million people were displaced, and 2.7 million, nearly half the population, needed humanitarian support, a huge setback for what was an already-poor country. More than 400,000 refugees — primarily in neighboring Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chad — have yet to return. |
| The violence prompted a military intervention by France, which ruled the country until 1960 and has sent troops there several times since. | The violence prompted a military intervention by France, which ruled the country until 1960 and has sent troops there several times since. |
| To this day, the country remains divided: the anti-balaka Christians dominate the west of the country, including Bangui; the former Seleka rebels control the north and center of the country; and the Lord’s Resistance Army, a brutal rebel movement that also operates in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Uganda, controls parts of the east. | To this day, the country remains divided: the anti-balaka Christians dominate the west of the country, including Bangui; the former Seleka rebels control the north and center of the country; and the Lord’s Resistance Army, a brutal rebel movement that also operates in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Uganda, controls parts of the east. |
| Voting was reported to be taking place peacefully in areas such as Bambari, where deadly sectarian violence erupted this summer, and even in parts of the north controlled by Noureddine Adam, a Muslim rebel leader who surprised the country recently by publicly supporting the elections, even though he had called for a breakaway republic in the north. | Voting was reported to be taking place peacefully in areas such as Bambari, where deadly sectarian violence erupted this summer, and even in parts of the north controlled by Noureddine Adam, a Muslim rebel leader who surprised the country recently by publicly supporting the elections, even though he had called for a breakaway republic in the north. |
| Catherine Samba-Panza has served as interim president since January 2014 but is not a candidate. | Catherine Samba-Panza has served as interim president since January 2014 but is not a candidate. |
| Three leading candidates — two former prime ministers, Anicet-Georges Dologuélé and Martin Ziguélé, and an independent candidate, Abdou Karim Meckassoua, who lives in PK5 — all cast their votes Wednesday morning. | Three leading candidates — two former prime ministers, Anicet-Georges Dologuélé and Martin Ziguélé, and an independent candidate, Abdou Karim Meckassoua, who lives in PK5 — all cast their votes Wednesday morning. |
| Mr. Dologuélé’s party recently forged an alliance with that of Mr. Bozizé, the former president. He sought to return from exile and take part in the election, but was prohibited from doing so, ostensibly because he had agreed not to run when he stepped down. The United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions last year against Mr. Bozizé and two others for their role in the country’s disorder. | Mr. Dologuélé’s party recently forged an alliance with that of Mr. Bozizé, the former president. He sought to return from exile and take part in the election, but was prohibited from doing so, ostensibly because he had agreed not to run when he stepped down. The United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions last year against Mr. Bozizé and two others for their role in the country’s disorder. |
| “When you see how many people are lining up to vote, it’s evident that Central Africans want to vote,” Mr. Dologuélé said after casting his ballot. “Logistical glitches are normal. They just need to be corrected as we go along.” | “When you see how many people are lining up to vote, it’s evident that Central Africans want to vote,” Mr. Dologuélé said after casting his ballot. “Logistical glitches are normal. They just need to be corrected as we go along.” |
| Mr. Ziguélé was less sanguine: “I have no choice but to be faithful to this electoral process, despite its flaws, despite the risks of fraud.” | Mr. Ziguélé was less sanguine: “I have no choice but to be faithful to this electoral process, despite its flaws, despite the risks of fraud.” |
| Officials from the French and United Nations peacekeeping forces said they would ensure that all ballots, even from remote villages, would be sent to Bangui to prevent a repeat of logistical problems that bedeviled the constitutional referendum this month. | Officials from the French and United Nations peacekeeping forces said they would ensure that all ballots, even from remote villages, would be sent to Bangui to prevent a repeat of logistical problems that bedeviled the constitutional referendum this month. |
| Election results are not expected until next week, and a second round of balloting is scheduled for Jan. 31. Whether the outcomes are accepted as legitimate will determine the country’s future. | |
| “The warlords will have to accept the results of the elections because the elections are democratic,” the country’s interim prime minister, Mahamat Kamoun, said in a recent interview in Paris, where he was attending the United Nations climate change conference. He said the pope’s visit had had a positive effect, but he acknowledged that the country needed time to heal. | |
| “Elections are one of the solutions to bring people back to peace,” Mr. Kamoun said, “but they can also be a new source of crisis if we do not manage to make them democratic, transparent and credible.” |