The Central African Republic is set to hold presidential, legislative, regional, and municipal elections on December 28, marking a significant milestone in the country’s peace process. The United Nations has urged all parties to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the rule of law, human rights, and fundamental freedoms.

According to a statement issued by the Secretary-General’s spokesperson, António Guterres called on all Central Africans to participate peacefully in the vote and encouraged authorities to conduct the elections in a “peaceful, orderly, inclusive, and credible manner.” He also appealed to political actors and stakeholders to refrain from actions that could incite violence or undermine confidence in the process.

The upcoming elections will be unprecedented in scope, combining four ballots across the country. Notably, municipal elections have not been held in the Central African Republic since 1988 and are a key provision of the 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation. The Secretary-General described the conduct of these elections as “an historic milestone in the peace process” and a critical step toward consolidating decentralization and extending state authority beyond the capital.

The Central African Republic has long struggled with armed violence, weak institutions, and a limited state presence beyond the capital, Bangui. Despite the 2019 agreement, insecurity persists in parts of the country, while conflict, fragile services, and extreme weather continue to fuel a humanitarian crisis. The country’s vast and sparsely populated terrain, crisscrossed by dense forests, rivers, and long, often impassable roads, poses significant logistical challenges to the electoral process.

To support the electoral process, the UN peacekeeping mission, MINUSCA, has mobilized extensive logistical and security support, including the deployment of electoral materials to remote and hard-to-reach areas. The mission has transported ballot papers, indelible ink, voter lists, and other sensitive materials to nearly 4,000 voting centers housing about 6,700 polling stations nationwide. MINUSCA has also supported civic education and voter awareness campaigns, including on preventing electoral violence and promoting a code of conduct for political actors.

With over 2.39 million registered voters, including more than 1.14 million women, expected to cast their ballots, the international community is watching the elections closely. The successful conduct of these elections will be critical to consolidating peace and stability in the Central African Republic, and the UN’s support will play a crucial role in ensuring a peaceful and credible electoral process.