Two candidates move forward to contest presidency of CAR


Two candidates remain in the race to contest the final round of elections for the presidency of the Central African Republic, or CAR.

The results from the first round of voting on December 30, which saw a large field of 30 candidates, were announced on Thursday.

The two men who will contest the final round of voting, due to take place on January 31, are Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Faustin Archange Touadéra.

Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, the head of the UN Mission in the country, MINUSCA, welcomed the first round result, and called on both candidates to "maintain the spirit of peace and restraint" that has generally prevailed so far.

After nine months of relative stability, a new wave of inter-communal violence erupted in the CAR last September, killing at least 130 and injuring 430.

But the electoral process itself saw high voter turnout and passed off peacefully.

Mr Onanga-Anyanga, installed formally in his post as head of the mission on Thursday by the UN Secretary-General, called on the remaining candidates to keep their supporters calm in the weeks of campaigning that remain.


SOURCE: Matthew Wells, United Nations.