CAR Elections: Tripartite agreement permits voting by refugees

Over 109,000 out of 250,000 Central African Republic, CAR, refugees resident in Cameroon will participate in upcoming legislative and presidential elections scheduled for December 13, 2015, to end the transition process in the conflict-torn country.

To facilitate their participation, the Ambassador of the Central African Republic to Cameroon, His Excellency Martial Béti-Marace, the Resident Representative of the UN Agency for Refugees (HCR), Khassim Diagne, alongside Cameroon’s Minister of External Relations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella, signed a tripartite agreement yesterday, November 2, 2015.

The deal implements provisions of the UN Security Council’s Resolution 2149 (2014) of April 10, 2014, which insists that CAR displaced persons and refugees must participate in the elections.

According to Lejeune Mbella Mbella, the agreement comes at a time when the international community is mobilising for the holding of elections to enable the country have legitimate institutions and leaders who can conduct the train of reforms necessary for the normalisation of the situation in CAR.

“By authorising the signing of this legal instrument, Cameroonian authorities are once more demonstrating their determination to assist CAR friendly people,” underscored the External Relations Minister, adding that "a special aid package of FCFA One billion has been given by the head of state, Paul Biya, to support the process."

He thus urged all parties to the process, including the refugees, to use facilities put at their disposal by Cameroon to ensure their participation in the elections.

On the level of preparedness, His Excellency Martial Béti-Marace assured the press that the refugees, as well as administrative authorities in the East and Adamawa Regions were recently sensitised during a recent joint field mission with HCR’s Resident Representative.

Khassim Diagne, on his part, stated that HCR is expected to facilitate access of the CAR elections management body to sites hosting CAR refugees.