The two candidates in the Central African Republic’s hotly-contested presidential run-off on Wednesday traded accusations of fraud, influence peddling and intimidation.
The two, Anicet Georges Dologuele and Faustin Archange Touadera are both former prime ministers, and have based their campaigns on pledges to restore security and boost the economy in the mineral-rich but chronically unstable nation.
Dologuele won the first round of voting that was held on December 30.
Dologuele is a 58-year-old former central banker nicknamed ‘Mr. Clean’ for his attempts to bring transparency to murky public finances while in office. He garnered 23.78% of the vote.
The other contestant, Touadera, also 58, is a former math professor, vying as an independent candidate. He managed 19.4% of the vote.
A spokesman for Dologeule’s party told a news conference they had “tangible proof of fraud organised by the adversary in [the capital] Bangui and in the provinces.”
“Fake polling stations were set up,” Saturnin Ndomby said.
“We have received reports of several cases of intimidation with chiefs of armed militias patrolling city districts and villages or in polling stations to influence voting.”
He also denied claims that Dologuele had held secret talks with a top official of the country’s election authority, Julius Ngouade Baba, on Monday on rigging the results in his favour.
