Heavy gunfire, a grenade and threats of violence in Central African Republic on Sunday prevented some residents from voting in a constitutional referendum to move the country toward stability.
The vote on a new constitution adopted by the transitional government comes two weeks after a visit by Pope Francis, who called for peace and reconciliation between the country’s Christian and Muslim populations.
“It’s since last night that these extremists have taken us hostage. They have distributed ammunitions to their elements to use all day Sunday to prevent the vote,” said Ousmane Abakar, a Muslim community leader in the PK5 neighbourhood in the capital, Bangui.
Residents in the northern Gobongo neighborhood of Bangui said a grenade exploded near a voting centre, injuring three people. In Kaga Bandoro in the country’s north, an armed group threatened to kill people who went to vote.
The referendum for a planned 2 million people in more than 5 500 stations continued elsewhere, though there were reports of missing voter cards. Presidential and legislative elections are scheduled for December 27.
