CAR

Preparations are underway in the Central African Republic for local elections in October, the first in over 36 years. MINUSCA, the UN peacekeeping mission, is playing a crucial role in this process. According to spokesperson Florence Marchal, MINUSCA will support the review of the electoral register by deploying 104 tonnes of equipment and transporting 384 people. The mission is also providing $1.3 million for electoral roll revision and advocating for additional resources and the participation of women and youth. In addition to logistical support, MINUSCA’s involvement includes political efforts to ensure an inclusive and peaceful electoral process. The mission is collaborating with national forces to develop an election security plan and aims to register around 800,000 new voters from a total of 2 million, updating the roll since its last revision in 2020. This effort aligns with the 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation, which seeks to decentralize the peace process.