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Elections in the Central African Republic (CAR) are underway, after a campaign marred by violence between the government and rebel forces.
On Saturday, the Constitutional Court rejected an offer from opposition candidates to postpone the vote due to insecurity.
In the race, three UN peacekeepers were killed by unidentified assailants in two separate attacks.
This is the first election since a peace deal was reached in February 2019.
President Faustin-Archange Touadera is seeking a second term and accused his predecessor, François Bozizé, of plotting a coup d’état with rebel groups.
Mr. Bozizé, banned from standing for election and under UN sanctions, denied this allegation.
Meanwhile, the government has denied allegations of election rigging by the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CCP) – a recently formed alliance of the country’s most powerful rebel groups.
Ballots are underway in presidential and legislative races, with UN peacekeepers patrolling the streets of the capital, Bangui, and armored vehicles stationed outside some polling stations.
The rebel coalition said on Friday it had canceled a three-day ceasefire during the election period due to attacks by government forces.
However, the government rejected the ceasefire, calling it a “non-event” that had not been honored by the rebels.
Rebel groups seized several towns near Bangui, clashing with government forces and looting property.
Source: BBC
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